Intensive Treatments for Pediatric Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder

This chapter describes empirically supported intensive treatment protocols for pediatric obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD). The chapter begins with a brief review of the epidemiology of OCD in youth, followed by a description of cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) with exposure and response/ritual prevention (ERP), the gold standard treatment approach for OCD. Following this, brief and intensive treatment protocols are discussed, including intensive family-based CBT, 5-day intensive ERP, the Bergen 4-Day treatment, and prolonged intensive ERP. The chapter concludes with a case study to highlight the application of an intensive treatment approach. Recommendations for refractory cases and future directions for research and clinical care are also presented.