Behavioral Treatment of Obsessive-Compulsive Symptoms in Youth With Prader-Willi Syndrome: A Pilot Project

Summary

Obsessive-compulsive (OC) symptoms are often present among youth with Prader-Willi Syndrome (PWS). They are also associated with considerable problems in the daily functioning of the child and his/her family. Although medication and behavioral treatments exist that target OC symptoms among youth without PWS, these treatments have not been thoroughly adapted for this population nor scientifically tested. Although medication has been helpful in addressing OC symptoms in several published case reports, the associated efficacy is modest and the potential for side effects is a realistic concern. Given that behavioral treatment for OC symptoms has superior efficacy to pharmacotherapy in youth without PWS without the accompanying risk for adverse side effects, it follows that an adapted version of behavioral therapy may hold promise in treating clinically problematic OC symptoms in youth with PWS. Thus, the purpose of the proposed grant is to develop and pilot-test a behavioral treatment for OC symptoms for use in youth with PWS. This study will allow us to develop and test a treatment protocol aimed at reducing OC symptoms that are clinically problematic and negatively impact functioning and quality of life in the child and his/her family.

Conditions

• Prader Willi Syndrome
• Obsessive-compulsive Disorder

Interventions

BEHAVIORAL

Cognitive-behavioral therapy

The manual is informed by behavioral principles and provides a structured, replicable manner of treating OC symptoms in youth with PWS. The treatment is individual in nature, includes a strong family component (i.e., teaching parents to be their child's coach/therapist), and lasts for approximately 12 sessions, held in a twice-weekly format. In addition, the protocol includes several specific components: education about OC symptoms (i.e., etiology, behavioral function, etc.), developing a hierarchy of rituals to target, exposure and response prevention exercises, promoting adaptive familial responses to child behaviors, and relapse prevention and problem solving future situations.

BEHAVIORAL

Wait-list control

The subject will not receive active treatment during this interval.

Sponsors & Collaborators

• Johns Hopkins All Children's Hospital

  collaborator OTHER

• University of South Florida

  lead OTHER

Principal Investigators

• Eric Storch, Ph.D. · University of South Florida

Study Design

Allocation

RANDOMIZED

Purpose

TREATMENT

Masking

SINGLE

Model

PARALLEL

Eligibility

Min Age

6 Years

Max Age

17 Years

Sex

ALL

Healthy Volunteers

No

Timeline & Regulatory

Start

2008-09-30

Primary Completion

2011-07-31

Completion

2011-07-31

Countries

• United States

Study Locations