title: Case study: bibliotherapy and extinction treatment of obsessive-compulsive disorder in a 5-year-old boy.
abstract: Cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) is an effective treatment for childhood obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD). However, no case studies of children younger than 7 years old have been published. This case report describes a 5-year-old boy with severe OCD. Treatment consisted of parent- and teacher-directed extinction of compulsive reassurance-seeking, and bibliotherapy with an age-appropriate book on OCD. Compulsive behavior decreased rapidly and remained at a low level through the remainder of treatment. At posttreatment and at 1- and 3-month follow-up assessments, the patient's OCD symptoms were markedly improved. This report suggests that very young children may respond well to brief CBT.
authors.affiliation: The Institute of Living and University of Connecticut School of Medicine, Hartford, 06106, USA. dtolin@harthosp.org
authors.forename: D F
authors.initials: DF
authors.lastname: Tolin
mesh_terms: D002675:Child, Preschool; D015928:Cognitive Behavioral Therapy; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009771:Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder / Q000523:psychology / Q000628:therapy*; D011932:Reading; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D016896:Treatment Outcome