Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) is common in children with rates of 1% to 4% in children and adolescents. A prominent first-line treatment for pediatric OCD is cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) using exposure and response prevention (ERP). However, it has also been suggested that family therapy be used as an adjunct treatment in pediatric OCD cases, as family members often accommodate or contribute to the maintenance of OCD symptoms. The following case study reviews the successful treatment of a 7-year-old with comorbid OCD and oppositional defiant disorder, in which traditional CBT and ERP for OCD was integrated with family-based approaches utilizing a family systems theory framework.
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