Abstract
Objective: To identify both responders and remitters, at the half-way point (week 7) to exposure-based CBT for pediatric OCD. Furthermore, evaluate the stability of the improvements, by examining both week 7 and week 14 (post-treatment) response and remission.
Method: 269 children and adolescents, mean age 12.8, 51.3% female with a DSM-IV diagnosis of OCD were included. The NordLOTS study's design involved initial assignment of all participants to CBT. All analyses were conducted using an intent-to-treat model in which all available data were included in the analysis. Primary outcome measure was the CY-BOCS total score at weeks 7 and 14. We identified responders (CY-BOCS≤15) and remitters (CY-BOCS≤10) at the half-way point.
Results: At week 7, 38.3% were responders (95% CI 32.4–44.5%, n=95) with a CY-BOCS total score of 10.81, symptoms reduction of 52.1%, and 13.7% were remitters (95% CI 10.0–18.6%, n=34), with a CY-BOCS total score of 5.71, symptoms reduction of 75.2%.
Discussion: Response and remission after seven weeks of treatment were persistent. However, a substantial number of non-responders and non-remitters at the half-way point, experienced response and remission at post treatment.
Conclusions: Guidelines are needed to ensure that patients with OCD receive the therapy they need to achieve remission, while avoiding overutilization.