Factors influencing treatment outcome in young people with OCD: The relationship between parental psychopathology, parent relationship indicators, child inflated responsibility and OCD symptomology

Background Salkovskis et al. (1999) proposed a number of pathways to the development of inflated responsibility and OCD, one of which was based upon the parent-child relationship. More recently, this relationship has also been shown to affect treatment outcome. The aim of the study was to explore how the parent relationship, parent psychopathology, inflated responsibility and OCD symptoms may affect treatment outcome, and consider whether this varied according to parental involvement in treatment. Method This study used a correlational design. The study used forty young people (aged 12-17) who had previously been enrolled on a randomised controlled trial (RCT) that compared individual and parent-enhanced CBT. Indicators of parental relationship, namely criticism and empathy, were coded from therapy recordings and how these affected treatment outcome within the trial was examined. Coding was based upon established measures of expressed emotion. Results The results indicated that parental criticism does not play a role in predicting treatment outcome. However, parental empathy did predict treatment outcome, but only when parents were involved in therapy. There were no significant relationships between parental psychopathology and parent relationship indicators, nor did any relationships exist between parental relationship indicators and either inflated responsibility or OCD symptomology, as proposed by Salkvoskis et al. (1999). iii Conclusions These findings fail to support the assumption that parental criticism is associated with a worse outcome for children and adolescents receiving treatment for OCD. A unique finding is the role parental empathy plays in improved outcome, but only when the parent is involved in treatment. Methodological problems are considered, and the clinical and theoretical implications discussed. Recommendations regarding future research are then considered.

Name dc:type.qualificationname

phd

Level dc:type.qualificationlevel

doctoral

Grantor dc:publisher.institution

University of East Anglia

Year dc:date.issued

2013

Author dc:creator

• Mcilwham, Harriet

Language dc:language

en