Fast Cbt for Pediatric OCD: A Multiple-Baseline Controlled Pilot Trial of Parent Training in Exposure and Response Prevention Delivered

Authors

Lara J Farrell
Natalja A Nabinger de Diaz
Sharna Mathieu
Matthew L McKenzie
Taka Miyamoto
Caroline L Donovan
Allison M Waters
Sonja March
Nicole Bothma
Rianca Kroon
Gabrielle Simcock
Robert S Ware
Robert R Selles
Eric A Storch
Thomas Ollendick

Publication Date

1-1-2022

Journal

Frontiers in Psychology

DOI

10.3389/fpsyg.2022.1009735

PMID

36591101

PMCID

PMC9795832

PubMedCentral® Posted Date

12-13-2022

PubMedCentral® Full Text Version

Post-print

Published Open-Access

yes

Keywords

CBT, ERP, child, adolescent, OCD, parent, telethealth

Abstract

Objective: The current study utilized a single case series, non-concurrent multiple baseline design to examine the efficacy of training parents via telehealth videoconferencing in exposure and response prevention (ERP) for home delivery of the treatment for their children and adolescents with obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD).

Method: There were nine participants aged 8 to 14 years who had received a primary diagnosis of OCD. The design involved a series of AB replications, whereby following pre-treatment assessments participants were randomly assigned to either a 2-week (n = 4) or 3-week (n = 5) baseline condition with weekly monitoring of their child's OCD symptoms. Following baseline, parents participated four weekly telehealth parent-training modules in delivering FAST (Families Accessing Skills Training) cognitive behavior therapy (CBT) with ERP (CBT-ERP) to children with OCD via videoconferencing with the clinician. Primary outcome measures were OCD symptom severity, diagnostic severity, and global functioning, which were assessed post-treatment and at 2 month follow-up.

Results: The stability of the baseline period from pre-treatment to week 2 (for the 2-week condition) or to week 3 (for the 3-week condition) was established as there were no significant differences across baseline scores for parent target obsessions or parent target compulsions ratings. Significant improvements on the primary outcomes of clinician assessed symptom severity, diagnostic ratings, and global functioning were observed from baseline to post-treatment, and continued to 2 months follow-up.

Conclusion: These data suggest that brief, parent training in FAST CBT-ERP via telehealth provides an overall effective intervention that is likely to be of most benefit to children and youth who are mild to moderate in severity.