Treatment of OCD in a young person: Using the C in CBT

Evidence for using cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) for the treatment of obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) in young people emphasizes the use of exposure with response prevention (ERP) as the key ingredient. CBT with a cognitive focus is used more often in adults, and comparatively there is less evidence for its use with young people. Although a significant proportion of young people with OCD respond well to CBT using ERP, a subset does not. Therefore, there is a need to consider alternative approaches. This case study describes the treatment of a 15-year-old girl with severe OCD using a cognitive approach. This case identifies the criteria used to make the decision to use a cognitive over an ERP approach and highlights the differences between the treatments. This case study demonstrates the merit of considering the cognitive approach to treatment of OCD for some young people.