Personalizing cognitive-behavioral treatment for pediatric obsessive-compulsive disorder

ABSTRACT

Introduction: Pediatric obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) is a heterogeneous psychiatric condition that affects approximately 1–2% of youth. Exposure and response prevention (ERP), a behavioral intervention, is considered the first-line treatment for pediatric OCD. Although efficacious, a myriad of factors may complicate care for youth with OCD, suggesting the potential benefits of personalizing care for these youth.

Areas covered: Factors such as comorbid psychopathology, familial factors (e.g., symptom accommodation, parental psychopathology), insight, developmental stage, and types of OCD symptom dimensions can each negatively affect treatment progress. Each of these factors are covered in length, with suggested clinical modifications provided in detail.

Expert commentary: Youth with OCD will optimally benefit from mental health professionals that are appropriately trained in using the core components of ERP (i.e., exposure therapy). Adequate training and psychoeducation about factors that may complicate care are necessary to ensure that these youth receive targeted, personalized care that is efficacious.

KEYWORDS:

• Exposure and response prevention
• obsessive-compulsive disorder
• pediatric
• personalizing care

Declaration of interest

EA Storch has received support from the NIH, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality, IOCDF, and Ortho-McNeil Scientific Affairs; receives textbook honorarium from Springer publishers, American Psychological Association, Lawrence Erlbaum, and Wiley-Blackwell; is a consultant for Prophase and Rogers Memorial Hospital; is on the speakers bureau and scientific advisory board for the IOCDF; and receives research support from the All Children’s Hospital Guild Endowed Chair. The authors have no other relevant affiliations or financial involvement with any organization or entity with a financial interest in or financial conflict with the subject matter or materials discussed in the manuscript apart from those disclosed.

Additional information

Funding

This paper was not funded