The SPACE program, a parent-based treatment for childhood and adolescent OCD: The case of Jasmine

Abstract

Current evidence-based treatments for obsessive-compulsive disorder in children and adolescents include cognitive-behavioral therapy, specifically exposure and response prevention, and psychopharmacological treatments. Despite the established efficacy of these treatments, many youth do not benefit from them, and barriers, including lack of motivation and resistance to treatment, prevent many youth from even attempting them. Parent-based treatments offer an alternative approach to child-based therapy. SPACE (Supportive Parenting for Anxious Childhood Emotions) is a parent-based treatment that focuses on systematically reducing family accommodation, or the changes that parents make to their own behavior to help a child avoid or alleviate distress related to the disorder, while increasing supportive responses to the child's symptoms. This article presents the theoretical background for SPACE and illustrates its implementation through a case description. Conclusions and knowledge to be gained from the case are discussed.