title: Does d-Cycloserine Augmentation of CBT Improve Therapeutic Homework Compliance for Pediatric Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder?
abstract: Clinical studies in adults and children with obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) have shown that d-cycloserine (DCS) can improve treatment response by enhancing fear extinction learning during exposure-based psychotherapy. Some have hypothesized that improved treatment response is a function of increased compliance and engagement in therapeutic homework tasks, a core component of behavioral treatment. The present study examined the relationship between DCS augmented cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) and homework compliance in a double-blind, placebo controlled trial with 30 youth with OCD. All children received 10 CBT sessions, the last seven of which included exposure and response prevention paired with DCS or placebo dosed 1 h before the session started. Results suggested that DCS augmented CBT did not predict improved homework compliance over the course of treatment, relative to the placebo augmented CBT group. However, when groups were collapsed, homework compliance was directly associated with treatment outcome. These findings suggest that while DCS may not increase homework compliance over time, more generally, homework compliance is an integral part of pediatric OCD treatment outcome.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychology, University of South Florida, 4202 E Fowler Ave, PCD 4118G, Tampa, FL 33611, USA.
authors.forename: Jennifer M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Park
authors.affiliation: School of Aging Studies, University of South Florida, Tampa, FL, USA.
authors.forename: Brent J
authors.initials: BJ
authors.lastname: Small
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatric Psychopharmacology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA, USA.
authors.forename: Daniel A
authors.initials: DA
authors.lastname: Geller
authors.affiliation: Departments of Pediatrics and Psychiatry, University of South Florida, St Petersburg, FL, USA.
authors.forename: Tanya K
authors.initials: TK
authors.lastname: Murphy
authors.affiliation: Departments of Pediatrics and Psychiatry, University of South Florida, St Petersburg, FL, USA.
authors.forename: Adam B
authors.initials: AB
authors.lastname: Lewin
authors.affiliation: Departments of Pediatrics and Psychiatry, University of South Florida, St Petersburg, FL, USA.
authors.forename: Eric A
authors.initials: EA
authors.lastname: Storch
keywords: Children; Exposure and response prevention; Homework compliance; Obsessive–compulsive disorder; d-Cycloserine