Webcam-Based Online Coaching with Children and Adolescents with Obsessive-Compulsive Disorders - A Single-Case Study.

Objective

Although there is clear evidence-based knowledge regarding state-of-the-art treatment for pediatric obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), two main issues remain in clinical practice: (1) Exposure-based cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) is limited in terms of availability and accessibility or is not adequately provided, and (2) despite large effect sizes of exposure-based CBT, the achieved recovery rates of 50-60 % still show room for improvement. These issues have prompted an increasing focus on delivering exposure-based CBT in new and innovative ways. This study aims to evaluate an intensive therapist-administered online coaching program consisting of exposure with response prevention via video teleconferencing (VTC) as an add-on to weekly outpatient CBT (blended therapy). Method: The blended therapy is examined in n = 5 children and adolescents with OCD using an AB design and multi-informant ratings.

Results

This single-case study shows promising results, indicating that a decrease in OCD severity and related functional impairment can be attributed to blended therapy. Moreover, satisfaction with online coaching was high.

Conclusions

Despite some principal limitations, the results support the effectiveness and feasibility of blended therapy.