Abstract/Summary

Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD) is a mental health disorder that often begins during preadolescence and can continue into adulthood in the absence of effective treatment. Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) including Exposure and Response Prevention (ERP) is an effective psychological treatment for preadolescent children with OCD, however, services often have considerable waitlists for treatment and there is a pressing need to increase access to treatments for this population. This thesis aimed to increase access to CBT for preadolescent children with OCD by adapting an existing brief low-intensity therapist guided, parent-led CBT intervention for children with anxiety disorders so that it was suitable for preadolescent children with OCD. Specifically, this thesis consisted of (1) a systematic review to identify the cognitive, behavioural, and familial maintenance mechanisms relevant to childhood OCD that need to be targeted in a brief low-intensity intervention, (2) qualitative research to explore parents’ experiences of parenting a preadolescent child with OCD and their views about parent involvement in CBT to ensure the adapted treatment reflected their experiences and needs, and (3) a non-concurrent multiple baseline case series to examine the preliminary efficacy and acceptability of the adapted intervention. Preliminary findings indicate that brief low-intensity therapist guided, parent-led CBT may be an effective, efficient, and acceptable intervention for this population that could help to substantially increase access to evidence-based treatments for preadolescent children with OCD. Further evaluation (i.e., a feasibility study) of this intervention in a low-intensity setting is now warranted, prior to a definitive randomised controlled trial of this intervention, if indicated.