Improving access to psychological treatments for children with Obsessive Compulsive Disorder

This project aims to improve access to psychological treatments for children with obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD). First, a systematic review will be conducted to establish the psychological mechanisms which maintain OCD in childhood. Qualitative interviews with parents of children aged 7 to 12 years old with OCD will also be conducted, to understand parents' experiences of parenting a child with OCD, and their views towards different levels of parent involvement in treatment for childhood OCD. The results of the systematic review and qualitative interviews will inform the development of a therapist guided, parent delivered treatment for children with OCD. This will be based on an existing Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) approach routinely used in clinical settings. Once developed, a preliminary evaluation of the therapist guided, parent delivered treatment for childhood OCD will be conducted.