Prevalence and clinical correlates of treatment concerns in a sample of treatment seeking youth with obsessive–compulsive disorder

• Youth with OCD expressed modest though variable levels of treatment concerns.
• Concerns were correlated with severity of OCD, anxiety, and family. accommodation.
• No relationship was found between treatment concerns and treatment outcome.

Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) has been established as an effective treatment for youth with obsessive–compulsive disorder (OCD). However, some patients do refuse treatment and many may be concerned about beginning and continuing treatment. The present study examined the nature and clinical correlates of treatment concerns, including treatment outcome, in a sample of 27 youth with treatment-resistant OCD presenting for intensive CBT. Results suggested that treatment concerns were modest in nature, though highly variable across the sample. Positive correlations were observed between treatment concerns and self-reported anxiety, clinician-rated OCD severity, and family accommodation; however, no relationship was observed between treatment concerns and treatment outcome.