Graduation Year

2023

Document Type

Open Access Senior Thesis

Degree Name

Bachelor of Arts

Department

Psychology

Reader 1

Stacey Wood

Reader 2

Jennifer Groscup

Abstract

Obessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD) is a psychological disorder that causes significant distress for millions of people, but it is under-researched and often misunderstood by both the general population and clinicians. In pediatric OCD, life outcomes like symptom severity and duration of the disorder are typically negatively impacted. Previous research has demonstrated that early intervention of pediatric OCD has positive outcomes, but the adverse side effects of common medications along with the lack of comprehensive effectiveness in traditional psychotherapies for OCD suggest that new and potentially better options must be explored. A 2x4 Mixed Model ANOVA design will compare CBT and EMDR treatments administered between the ages of 6 and 12, with assessments at intake and the end of treatment, and with attempted follow-ups at ages 18 and 25. It is hypothesized that CBT and EMDR will both be effective treatments for pediatric OCD. More specifically, it is hypothesized that CBT will be more effective than EMDR when comparing the severity of symptoms at the end of treatment to the severity of symptoms at intake and that EMDR will be more effective than CBT at maintaining fewer symptoms when comparing patients at age 18 and age 25 between the two treatment groups. This research will potentially improve the lives and well-being of people of all ages with OCD, raise awareness for the disorder and its detrimental effects on functioning, and provide a greater understanding of the course of pediatric OCD into adulthood for the current scholarly base.

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