Open trial of cognitive behavior therapy for childhood obsessive-compulsive disorder.
Examined the utility of CBT for childhood obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) including a preliminary exploration of predictors of response to this form of treatment. A total of 42 youngsters (mean age 11.8 years, 60% female, 52% on medication at baseline) with DSM-IV OCD were treated openly using a developmentally sensitive treatment protocol based on exposure plus response prevention (ERP). The treatment response rate (CGI < 2) was 79% with a mean decrease from baseline in NIMH global scores of 45%. Response was not related to age, gender, baseline medication status, comorbid symptomatology, or therapist experience. Poorer outcome was associated with more severe obsessions and greater OCD-related academic impairment at baseline. When presented in a developmentally appropriate manner, CBT is a useful treatment for childhood OCD. Controlled trials are needed to provide a more rigorous test of this treatment approach and provide better information regarding potential mediators and moderators of outcome.
Department of Psychiatry and Biobehavioral Sciences, Division of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, UCLA School of Medicine, Los Angeles, CA, USA. jcp@ucla.edu
John
J
Piacentini
R Lindsey
RL
Bergman
Courtney
C
Jacobs
James T
JT
McCracken
Jolie
J
Kretchman
D000293:Adolescent; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D015928:Cognitive Behavioral Therapy / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D015141:Los Angeles; D008297:Male; D009771:Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder / Q000628:therapy*; D012044:Regression Analysis