The Effectiveness of Family-Based Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy in Improving the Relationships between Adolescents with Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder and their Parents

The purpose of this study was to determine the effectiveness of family-based cognitive-behavioral therapy in improving the relationships between adolescents with obsessive-compulsive disorder and their parents. The research method was semi-experimental with pretest-posttest control group design. The statistical population of the study comprised all adolescents with obsessive-compulsive disorder in Tehran’s Imam Hossein Hospital and their parents from among whom 30 subjects were selected through convenience sampling method and then were randomly assigned to two groups of 15 (control and experimental). The experimental group received Cognitive-Behavioral Family Treatment based on Freeman and Garcia Intervention Model in eight sessions and the control group did not receive any intervention. The research instrument included Parent-Child Relationship Survey (Fine et al., 1983). The 6-month follow-up was based on family therapist reports and independent evaluations. The data were analyzed via ANCOVA and MANCOVA. Results showed that family-based cognitive-behavioral therapy was effective in improving the relationships between adolescents with obsessive-compulsive disorder and their parents (p<0.05). In addition, the results of multivariate covariance analysis demonstrated that in dimensions of positive affect, distress/role confusion, replication, and communication or dialogue family-based cognitive-behavioral therapy was effective in improving the relationships between parents and adolescents with obsessive-compulsive disorder (p<0.05). The 6-month follow-up results revealed drastic improvement in parents-adolescent relationships (66.7%).