Table 1 Overview of the eligible studies on iCBT for pediatric OCD
Reference | Study design | Control group | Participants | Parent involvement | Communication methods | Therapist involvement | Intervention | Outcome | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Intervention contents | Intervention duration | Primary outcomes | Time of assessment | |||||||
Comer et al. (USA) [28] | Case series | Not Applicable | Children aged 4-8 (M = 6.5; SD = 0.9) 3 boys 2 girls | (a) Parents were trained as coaches, (b) treatment addresses parental accommodation of child symptoms, and (c) treatment had an exposure component for parents. | Video-teleconference sessions | Regular contact through video-teleconference | “Internet-delivered Family-based -CBT”: -Video teleconferencing -Interactive computer games, feeling thermometer, exposure hierarchy and exercises | 12 sessions in 14 weeks | Treatment efficacy, feasibility, and acceptability | Baseline, post-treatment |
Comer et al. (USA) [30] | RCT | Family-based CBT delivered in clinic | Children aged 4–8 (M = 6.7; SD = 1.3) 6 boys 5 girls | (a) Parents were trained as coaches, (b) treatment addresses parental accommodation of child symptoms, and (c) treatment had an exposure component for parents. | Video-teleconference sessions | Regular contact through video-teleconference | “Internet-delivered Family-based -CBT”: -Video teleconferencing -Interactive computer games, feeling thermometer, exposure exercises and hierarchy | 12 sessions in 14 weeks | Treatment efficacy, feasibility, and acceptability | Baseline, post-treatment, 6-month follow up |
Farrell et al. (Australia) [31] | Single-case, non-concurrent multiple-baseline design | Not Applicable | Adolescents aged 11–16 (M = 13.6; SD = 1.8) 6 boys 4 girls | Parents were involved in education session, at the end of their child’s intensive face-to-face sessions, and during all e-therapy maintenance sessions. | One face-to-face education session, two intensive face-to-face CBT sessions, therapy maintenance sessions via video-teleconferencing | Regular contact through video-teleconferencing | Two intensive face-to-face CBT sessions followed by e-therapy maintenance | Psychoeducation and 2 intensive CBT sessions during 3 weeks, followed by a 3-week therapy maintenance program | Treatment efficacy and feasibility | Pre-intervention, weekly assessments during 1- or 2-week baseline period, post-CBT, 1-month follow up (after e-therapy), 6-month follow up |
Lenhard et al. (Sweden) [32] | Open trial | Not Applicable | Adolescents aged 12–17 (M = 14.4; SD = 2.6) 8 boys 13 girls | Parents participated in treatment through parent-specific chapters, with varying degrees of parental involvement depending on the child’s age. | “Internet Project for Children”: a self-help protocol through an Internet platform containing texts, films, animations and exercises; telephone calls or messages | Occasional contact through telephone calls or messages to a therapist | “Internet Project for Children” Internet platform for educative texts, films, and exercises | 12 treatment chapters in 12 weeks | Treatment efficacy, feasibility, and acceptability | Baseline, 3-month, post-treatment, 6-month follow up |
RCT | Waitlist | Adolescents aged 12-17 (M = 14.2; SD = 1.7) 16 boys 17 girls | Parents participated in the treatment through parent-specific chapters, with varying degrees of parental involvement depending on the child’s age | “Internet Project for Children”: a self-help protocol through an Internet platform containing texts, films, animations and exercises; telephone calls or messages. Smartphone application support for ERP exercises | Occasional contact through telephone calls or messages to a therapist | “Internet Project for Children” Internet platform for educative texts, films, and exercises | 12 treatment chapters in 12 weeks | Treatment efficacy, feasibility, and acceptability | Baseline, post-treatment, 3-month follow up | |
Storch et al. (USA) [34] | RCT | Waitlist | Children and adolescents between 7 and 16 (M = 11.1; SD = 2.6) 10 boys 6 girls | Parents were instructed on coaching their child through exposure. | Video-teleconference sessions, email | Regular contact through video-teleconference | Web camera-delivered cognitive behavioral therapy (video-teleconference) | 14 sessions in 12 weeks | Treatment efficacy, feasibility, and acceptability | Baseline, post-treatment |