Cognitive-Behavioral Treatment of Childhood OCD: It's Only a False Alarm

by John Piacentini, Audra Langley, Tami Roblek

Overview

Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD) affects an estimated 2% of children in the United States and can cause considerable anxiety. OCD is characterized by a pattern of rituals (or compulsions) and obsessive thinking. Common obsessions among children and teens include a fear of dirt or germs, a need for symmetry, order, and precision, and a fear of illness or harm coming to oneself or relatives. Common compulsions include grooming, repeating, and cleaning rituals. These obsessions and compulsions can severely interfere with daily functioning and are a source of significant distress. Without adequate treatment, the quality of life for youths and families dealing with OCD often suffers. Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy (CBT) has shown to be effective in the treatment of childhood OCD. This Therapist Guide outlines a 12-session CBT-based treatment for OCD that benefits not only children and adolescents, but their families as well. Each session incorporates a family therapy component in addition to individual treatment for the child. It is a combined approach program that educates the child and family about OCD in order to reduce negative feelings of guilt and blame and to normalize family functioning. This manual also provides guidelines for conducting both imaginal and in vivo exposures; techniques at the core of helping children reduce their anxiety. For use with children ages 8 17, this book is an indispensable resource for clinicians helping children and their families cope with OCD.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780199725397
Publisher:	Oxford University Press
Publication date:	04/19/2007
Series:	Treatments That Work
Sold by:	Barnes & Noble
Format:	eBook
File size:	1 MB

About the Author

John Piacentini, Ph.D., ABPP is Professor of Psychiatry and Biobehavioral Sciences at the UCLA School of Medicine and Director of the Child OCD, Anxiety, and Tic Disorders Program at the UCLA Semel Institute. Audra Langley, Ph.D. is an Assistant Professor in the Division of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry at the UCLA Semel Institute for Neuroscience and Human Behavior. Dr. Langley is also the Director of Training for the Center for Resiliency, Hope, and Wellness in Schools and serves as Chair of the National Child Traumatic Stress Network School Committee. Tami Roblek, Ph.D. is a clinician and researcher within the Division of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry at the UCLA Semel Institute for Neuroscience and Human Behavior.

Table of Contents

Introductory Information for Therapists 1

Chapter 1 Session 1 Psychoeducation and Rationale 13

Chapter 2 Session 2 Creating a Symptom Hierarchy/Psychoeducation 25

Chapter 3 Session 3 Beginning ERP/Challenging Negative Assumptions 31

Chapter 4 Session 4 Cognitive Restructuring/Blame Reduction 45

Chapter 5 Session 5 Dealing with Obsessions/Family Responses to OCD 55

Chapter 6 Session 6 Reviewing Progress/Child's Responsibility for Treatment 65

Chapter 7 Session 7 Troubleshooting Obstacles to ERP/Secondary Gain 71

Chapter 8 Session 8 Continuing ERP/Differentiating OCD vs. Non-OCD Behaviors 79

Chapter 9 Session 9 Addressing More Difficult Symptoms/Family Self-Care 85

Chapter 10 Session 10 Addressing More Difficult Symptoms/Family Problem Solving 91

Chapter 11 Session 11 Planning for Termination/Relapse Prevention 97

Chapter 12 Session 12 Graduation 105

Appendix: Rating Scales 111

References 125

About the Authors 129