A Trial of Parent-coached Exposure Therapy for Children With Anxiety Disorders and OCD

A Randomized-controlled Trial of Therapy for Children and Adolescents With Anxiety Disorders and Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD)

The purpose of this study is to examine the effectiveness of parent coached exposure therapy (PCET) and standard cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) in treating childhood anxiety disorders and obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD).

The purpose of this study is to examine the effectiveness of parent coached exposure therapy (PCET) through baseline comparisons, to compare effectiveness of individual PCET and individual standard cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), to compare efficiency of individual PCET and individual standard CBT, to compare effectiveness of group intensive PCET, individual PCET, and individual standard CBT, and acceptability.

Inclusion Criteria:

• Have a DSM-5 anxiety disorder diagnosis, including generalized anxiety disorder, obsessive compulsive disorder, panic disorder, agoraphobia, separation anxiety disorder, social and specific phobias, as assessed on the relevant modules of the (MINI-Kids; (Sheehan et al., 2010) by study staff in the PADC.
• Be appropriate for the PADC standard outpatient therapy program, and be interested in starting outpatient therapy,
• Have the anxiety disorder as their primary diagnosis,
• If taking a selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor, SNRI, tricyclic, or antipsychotic medication, had no medication changes made at least 8 weeks prior to initiating participation in the study and agree to no changes during the 12 weeks of the study.

Exclusion Criteria:

• History of and/or current psychosis, autism, bipolar disorder, or current suicidality, or eating disorder as assessed during the initial clinical interview and all available clinical information.
• Current positive diagnosis in the child's caregiver of mental retardation, psychosis, or other psychiatric disorders or conditions that would limit his/her ability to understand CBT and follow-through with treatment directives (based on clinical interview).
• Secondary diagnosis of oppositional defiant disorder or major depression of sufficient severity to prevent anxiety treatment.
• Severity of symptoms that warrant higher level of care (i.e. intensive, residential, IOP, inpatient)
• Family is unable to attend weekly sessions (i.e. geographical or scheduling barriers)
• History of good quality exposure or CBT.