. The DAWBA is “currently the only computerized diagnostic assessment for pediatric OCD” (Krebs et al. 246). The strength of the DAWBA lies primarily in three areas. Initially as discussed, the assessment combines information from both child and parent. Secondly, the online adaptation allows the child to answer freely without the unfamiliar clinician present. Children may be afraid to answer questions honestly in the presence of a stranger, so this format allows for the most authentic responses. Finally, the DAWBA screens for several other disorders that are comorbid with OCD. The study notes that this is, “particularly relevant to the assessment of OCD where rates of comorbidity are high, with up to 80% of young people meeting diagnostic criteria for an additional diagnosis” (Krebs et al. 246). Diagnosis opens the door to treatment and to relief for those with pediatric obsessive-compulsive disorder. Common treatment methods for children with OCD are
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Rituals often develop as a way to cope with anxieties, so exposure therapy within a CBT treatment plan aims to treat the cause of these behaviors in order to eliminate the behavior itself. Despite her maturity, her therapists found that calling her obsession with contamination an “ickiness hierarchy” helped both parties to identify which scenarios triggered her the most by allowing Cassandra to rate items on a scale or “ickiness hierarchy.” They could then start at the least “icky” acts or items and work their way up the hierarchy to the most icky acts or items throughout their exposure therapy sessions. The ickiness hierarchy is a perfect example of a therapist adapting her typical treatment vocabulary and methods to fit the needs of an afflicted child or adolescent rather than an
Rituals often develop as a way to cope with anxieties, so exposure therapy within a CBT treatment plan aims to treat the cause of these behaviors in order to eliminate the behavior itself. Despite her maturity, her therapists found that calling her obsession with contamination an “ickiness hierarchy” helped both parties to identify which scenarios triggered her the most by allowing Cassandra to rate items on a scale or “ickiness hierarchy.” They could then start at the least “icky” acts or items and work their way up the hierarchy to the most icky acts or items throughout their exposure therapy sessions. The ickiness hierarchy is a perfect example of a therapist adapting her typical treatment vocabulary and methods to fit the needs of an afflicted child or adolescent rather than an