Cognitive-behavioral treatment of childhood obsessive-compulsive disorder in community-based clinical practice: clinical significance and benchmarking against efficacy.
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate the feasibility and outcomes of evidence-based (EB) manualized, cognitive-behavioral treatment (CBT) for childhood obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), when delivered in an outpatient community-based specialist clinic.


METHODS
This study, conducted in an outpatient private clinic in South-East Queensland Australia, involved thirty-three children and adolescents with OCD. Children were assessed at pre- and post-treatment, by means of diagnostic interviews, symptom severity interviews, and self-report. Treatment involved 12 sessions CBT delivered either individually or in small groups and included parental involvement.


RESULTS
Manualized CBT could be transported to the community setting effectively, with 63% of the current sample responding positively, based on post-treatment diagnosis. Significant change was evident across a wide-range of outcomes; including, diagnostic severity, symptom severity, child reported depression and anxiety, and both child and parent reported OCD functional impairment.


CONCLUSIONS
This study provides evidence for the transportability of manualized CBT in clinical community practice for pediatric OCD. The next important step is larger community based dissemination and effectiveness studies to advance both research and clinical practice outcomes.
Farrell
Lara J
LJ
Griffith Institute of Health and Medical Research, Behavioral Basis of Health, Griffith University, Gold Coast Campus, Brisbane, Queensland 4222, Australia. l.farrell@griffith.edu.au
Schlup
Barbara
B
Boschen
Mark J
MJ
D000293:Adolescent; D000367:Age Factors; D000554:Ambulatory Care Facilities; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D019985:Benchmarking; D002648:Child; D002985:Clinical Protocols / Q000592:standards; D015928:Cognitive Behavioral Therapy / Q000379:methods* / Q000592:standards; D003155:Community Mental Health Centers; D019317:Evidence-Based Medicine; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009771:Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder / Q000628:therapy*; D010043:Outcome and Process Assessment, Health Care; D012737:Sex Factors; D018709:Statistics, Nonparametric