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Using Family-Based Exposure With Response Prevention to Treat Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder in Young Children: A Case

Jenny Herren1, Jennifer Freeman2, Abbe Garcia2

  • 1Alpert Medical School of Brown University, Bradley Hospital. jennifer_herren@brown.edu.

Journal of Clinical Psychology
|September 30, 2016
PubMed

Insights

Family-based cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) with exposure and response prevention (ERP) effectively treats obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) in young children. This approach, involving family participation, significantly improved functioning and reduced OCD symptoms in a 7-year-old boy.

Area of Science:

  • Child and Adolescent Psychiatry
  • Behavioral Therapy
  • Clinical Psychology

Background:

  • Cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) with exposure and response prevention (ERP) is the gold standard for treating obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD).
  • Developmental considerations are crucial when adapting CBT for young children with OCD.
  • Family accommodation of OCD symptoms can impede treatment progress.

Observation:

  • A case study involving a 7-year-old boy with OCD is presented.
  • The treatment utilized family-based CBT with ERP.
  • Key therapeutic principles included family involvement, reducing accommodation, understanding the function of obsessions/compulsions, and facilitating habituation during exposure.

Findings:

  • The case study demonstrated significant improvements in the child's overall functioning.
  • Obsessive-compulsive disorder symptoms showed a notable reduction following treatment.
  • Family involvement was a critical component in achieving positive outcomes.

Implications:

  • Family-based CBT with ERP is a viable and effective treatment for early-onset OCD.
  • Reducing family accommodation is essential for successful ERP delivery in pediatric populations.
  • A function-based habituation framework can enhance ERP efficacy in treating young children with OCD.

Keywords:
exposure with response preventionfamily-based cognitive behavioral therapyhabituationobsessive-compulsive disorderyoung children

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