AUTHOR=Farrell Lara J. , Nabinger de Diaz Natalja A. , Mathieu Sharna , McKenzie Matthew L. , Miyamoto Taka , Donovan Caroline L. , Waters Allison M. , March Sonja , Bothma Nicole , Kroon Rianca , Simcock Gabrielle , Ware Robert S. , Selles Robert R. , Storch Eric A. , Ollendick Thomas TITLE=FAST CBT for pediatric OCD: A multiple-baseline controlled pilot trial of parent training in exposure and response prevention delivered via telehealth JOURNAL=Frontiers in Psychology VOLUME=13 YEAR=2022 URL=https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/psychology/articles/10.3389/fpsyg.2022.1009735 DOI=10.3389/fpsyg.2022.1009735 ISSN=1664-1078 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.