Intensive Cognitive Behavioural Treatment for Obsessive Compulsive Disorder in Children and Adolescents

Abstract

Preliminary evidence for the efficacy of intensive treatments for childhood OCD is promising. This is an important area of research as traditional weekly CBT for OCD is costly, time intensive and is often challenging for families to access. This review explores the evidence base for intensive treatments for childhood OCD and following this, provides a description of a novel intensive treatment approach that combines prolonged intensive ERP sessions, similar to the one-session treatment for specific phobia, with CBT delivered over the computer via webcam (W-CBT) for one-month maintenance. Future research directions are also discussed.