Case study: successful medication withdrawal using cognitive-behavioral therapy for a preadolescent with OCD

Abstract

The aim of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness of the addition of manual-based cognitive-behavioral therapy to a medication regimen of clomipramine and fluoxetine and the withdrawal of medication during cognitive-behavioral therapy. The participant was an 11-year-old girl with symptoms of obsessive thoughts about germs and illness and handwashing compulsions. The addition of cognitive-behavioral therapy reduced the participant's daily number of obsessions and avoidance behaviors after three sessions. When medication was tapered during the cognitive-behavioral therapy program, the participant's symptoms continued to decline, and after treatment, she no longer met diagnostic criteria for obsessive-compulsive disorder. Impressively, the participant remained medication free and treatment gains were maintained at 4 months' follow-up.