Treatment of pediatric obsessive-compulsive disorder: A case example of intensive cognitive-behavioral therapy involving exposure and ritual prevention Original Research Article

The development of effective pharmacotherapies for pediatric obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) has improved the clinical prognosis for children and adolescents who suffer from the disorder. Recent pilot work has also suggested that cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) involving exposure and ritual prevention (EX/RP) may prove particularly helpful in ameliorating OCD symptoms in children and adolescents. The application of intensive CBT of a 12-year-old boy with severe and unusual OCD symptoms is illustrated here. Case material is presented, illustrating the design and implementation of CBT involving EX/RP; recommendations to guide clinical decision making regarding session frequency, concomitant medication use, and maintenance of treatment gains are provided.