Parents' Experiences of a Preventive Intervention for Children at Risk of Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder: A...

Area of Science:

• Child and Adolescent Psychiatry
• Developmental Psychology
• Digital Health Interventions

Background:

• Childhood obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) often presents with significant delays in support, leading to prolonged impairment.
• Early intervention and preventive strategies are crucial for children exhibiting early obsessive-compulsive symptoms or those with a familial risk of OCD.
• A novel, brief online program was developed to support parents of children at elevated risk for OCD.

Purpose of the Study:

• To qualitatively explore parents' experiences engaging with a newly developed online preventive intervention for pediatric OCD.
• To understand how the digital format and content influenced parental engagement and perceived benefits.
• To identify potential areas for intervention refinement to optimize its effectiveness.

Main Methods:

• A qualitative study involving nine parents of children aged 5-11 years with varying risk profiles for OCD.
• Purposive sampling ensured representation of subclinical symptoms, familial risk, or both.
• Individual semi-structured interviews were conducted post-program completion and analyzed using reflexive thematic analysis.

Main Results:

• Parents highlighted the digital, flexible format as "Accessibility and design features facilitating engagement," reducing practical barriers and integrating the program into daily life.
• Parents reported "Changes in understanding and parental responses," including altered interpretations of early OCD behaviors and family accommodation, alongside modified parental reactions.
• The online program was perceived as accessible, relevant, and supportive in enhancing parental understanding and behavioral responses.

Conclusions:

• The online preventive program is perceived positively by parents for its accessibility and impact on understanding and responding to early OCD symptoms.
• Recommendations for intervention refinement include extending program duration, adding more in-depth content, and clarifying focus on children with early OCD symptoms.
• These refinements aim to strengthen the program's utility as an early preventive measure for families at risk of pediatric OCD.