Family involvement and treatment for young children with Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder: Randomized control study

Area of Science:

• Child Psychology
• Clinical Psychology
• Family Therapy

Background:

• Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD) significantly impacts children under 8.
• Early intervention is crucial for managing childhood OCD.
• Family dynamics play a role in treatment efficacy.

Purpose of the Study:

• To compare the effectiveness of three Cognitive Behavioral Family Treatment (CBFT) variations for early childhood OCD.
• To assess the impact of family member involvement on OCD symptom reduction.
• To evaluate secondary outcomes such as internalizing and externalizing problems.

Main Methods:

• Randomized controlled trial with 44 children (aged 5.2-7.9) diagnosed with OCD.
• Three treatment arms: parent-child, mother-child, and mother-only CBFT.
• 12 sessions of Cognitive-Behavioral Family-Based Treatment delivered to each group.

Main Results:

• All three CBFT conditions showed significant improvements in OCD symptom severity and secondary outcomes.
• No significant differences in OCD symptom severity were observed between the treatment groups.
• Statistically significant differences emerged in internalizing and externalizing problems, and parental accommodation levels.

Conclusions:

• Treatments involving more family members, particularly direct child involvement, were more effective.
• CBFT is effective for early childhood OCD, with broader family engagement enhancing outcomes.
• Addressing family accommodation is important for optimizing treatment results.