Cognitive Behavioral Therapy to Support Safe Medication Discontinuation in Children and Teens with OCD Study of Medication Withdrawal Using CBT in Pediatric Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder

What this Trial Is About

Researchers are investigating whether children and teenagers with obsessive-compulsive disorder OCD who benefit from adding cognitive-behavioral therapy CBT to their medication can safely stop their medication without relapsing over 24 weeks. This study focuses on young patients with OCD who have partially responded to serotonin reuptake inhibitors SRI and aims to compare continued medication use with medication discontinuation. The research also includes collecting genetic samples for future studies related to OCD risk. The trial has two phases. In the first phase, all participants receive web-based CBT for 12 to 18 weeks. Those who show significant improvement based on specific OCD symptom scale scores move to the second phase. In phase two, participants are randomly assigned to either continue their SRI medication at a stable dose or gradually switch to a placebo while continuing CBT maintenance sessions and attending medication visits for 24 weeks. A follow-up assessment occurs 12 months after phase two ends. Participants will be involved in regular assessments including symptom rating scales and clinical evaluations conducted via telepsychiatry. CBT maintenance sessions occur biweekly initially and then monthly. Researchers will measure OCD symptoms using the Childrens Yale-Brown Obsessive Compulsive Scale and other clinical improvement scales. The study monitors participants over a total duration that includes the initial CBT treatment, medication continuation or withdrawal period, and a long-term follow-up to evaluate relapse and treatment outcomes.

CBT Augmentation to Promote Medication Discontinuation in Pediatric OCD