Parent-led CBT for preadolescent children with OCD
Research type
Research Study
Full title
Therapist guided, parent-led, Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) for preadolescent children with Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD)
IRAS ID
294521
Contact name
Kate Harvey
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
University of Reading
Duration of Study in the UK
1 years, 0 months, 3 days
Research summary
Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD) is a mental health disorder which often onsets during preadolescence. Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) including Exposure and Response Prevention (ERP) is an effective psychological treatment for children with OCD and involves children being gradually exposed to their obsessions, whilst refraining from engaging in their compulsions. Despite this, there is a lack of therapists trained to deliver CBT to children with OCD, and services often have long waitlists for treatment.
One way to increase access to CBT for children with OCD would be to develop a ‘low-intensity’ treatment (requiring less therapist time/input than traditional CBT) which could be delivered by low-intensity practitioners (e.g., Children’s Wellbeing Practitioners – CWPs, and Educational Mental Health Practitioners – EHMPs). Currently, CWPs/EMHPs are trained to deliver therapist guided, parent-led CBT interventions to parents of preadolescent children with anxiety disorders and behavioural difficulties – however, there is no existing low-intensity intervention specifically designed for preadolescent children with OCD that is suitable for delivery by CWPs/EMHPs.
This study aims to adapt an existing therapist guided, parent-led, CBT intervention for parents of children with anxiety disorders that is widely used by CWPs/EMHPs, for parents of children with OCD. Parents/carers of children (aged 5-to-12 years) with possible OCD will be recruited through Berkshire Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services, charities, social media/local radio, and school newsletters. Parents/carers (and their child, if parent consent for child participation and child assent is obtained) will complete diagnostic interviews to confirm their child has OCD. Eligible parents/carers will be asked to complete weekly questionnaires for 3-, 4, or 5-weeks before receiving 6-to-8 treatment sessions. Diagnostic interviews will be repeated immediately after treatment, and one-month later, to evaluate children’s outcomes. Parents/carers’ acceptability of the treatment will also be examined.
This study is funded by the Economic and Social Research Council.
REC name
West Midlands - South Birmingham Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
21/WM/0077
Date of REC Opinion
19 Apr 2021
REC opinion
Further Information Favourable Opinion