Covert Symptoms of Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder in Children: A Case Study

Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) comprises both cognitive and behavioral components. It is not surprising, therefore, that there has been a considerable emphasis on applying cognitive-behavioral techniques in the treatment of obsessive-compulsive disorder for the past 20 or so years. Although a great number of individuals afflicted with obsessive-compulsive disorder are suffering from cognitive symptoms, the success rate in using traditional cognitive-behavioral techniques in targeting these covert symptoms has unfortunately been somewhat low. This article provides a case study utilizing a cognitive-behavioral treatment used to successfully treat obsessive-compulsive disorder in a 10-year-old Caucasian male with severe “just right” cognitive compulsions. Treatment outcome is discussed in terms of various assessment measures administered at pre-treatment, post-treatment, and 3-month follow-up, as well as weekly monitoring forms.