Clinical characteristics of treatment-seeking youth with misophonia.

Objective: Misophonia is a psychiatric condition characterized by strong emotional and/or behavioral responses to auditory stimuli, leading to distress and functional impairment. Despite previous attempts to define and categorize this condition, misophonia is not currently included in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders or International Classification of Diseases. The lack of formal diagnostic consensus presents challenges for research aimed at assessing and treating this clinical presentation.

Indicators of Social Competence and Social Participation Among US Children With Tourette Syndrome.

Children with Tourette syndrome often have behavioral and social difficulties, which may be associated with co-occurring mental, emotional, or behavioral disorders. This study investigated social competence, including behavioral problems and social skills, and social activities between children with and without Tourette syndrome using a nationally representative sample. In the 2007 National Survey of Children's Health, parents reported on health care provider diagnosis of Tourette syndrome, co-occurring mental, emotional, or behavioral disorders, and indicators of social competence.

A Pilot Study of Family-Based Exposure-Focused Treatment for Youth with Autism Spectrum Disorder and Anxiety.

Anxiety is a common and impairing condition in youth with autism spectrum disorders (ASD). Evidence supports the use of cognitive behavioral therapy for treating anxiety in this population; however, available treatment protocols may be difficult to implement outside of research settings. The present study examined the efficacy of family-based exposure-focused treatment (FET) compared to a treatment as usual (TAU) control in 32 youth aged 6-17 years with ASD and co-occurring anxiety.

Fear extinction learning as a predictor of response to cognitive behavioral therapy for pediatric obsessive compulsive disorder.

Background: While cognitive behavior therapy (CBT) is an effective treatment for many children and adolescents with Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD), therapeutic response is variable. Fear conditioning and extinction are central constructs underlying exposure-based CBT. Fear extinction learning assessed prior to CBT may be a useful predictor of CBT response for guiding treatment decisions.

Parents' Perceptions of Internalizing and Externalizing Features in Childhood OCD.

Although obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) has often been characterized as an internalizing disorder, some children with OCD exhibit externalizing behaviors that are specific to their OCD. This study sought to demonstrate that parents perceive both internalizing and externalizing behaviors in childhood OCD by examining the factor structure of the Child Obsessive-Compulsive Externalizing/Internalizing Scale (COCEIS), a parent-report questionnaire intended to measure these constructs. This study also investigated clinical correlates of internalizing and externalizing factors in the COCEIS.

Multimodal Residential Treatment for Adolescent Anxiety: Outcome and Associations with Pre-treatment Variables.

This study aimed to determine the effect of a multimodal residential treatment program for severe adolescent anxiety, and examine whether treatment outcome was associated with pre-treatment anxiety, comorbid disorders, or participant age or gender. Participants were 70 adolescents (61.4% female, mean age = 15.

Family accommodation of anxiety symptoms in youth undergoing intensive multimodal treatment for anxiety disorders and obsessive-compulsive disorder: Nature, clinical correlates, and treatment response.

Background: Family accommodation is associated with a range of clinical features including symptom severity, functional impairment, and treatment response. However, most previous studies in children and adolescents investigated family accommodation in samples of youth with obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) or anxiety disorders receiving non-intensive outpatient services.

Aims: In this study, we aimed to investigate family accommodation of anxiety symptoms in a sample of youth with clinical anxiety levels undergoing an intensive multimodal intervention for anxiety disorders or OCD.

The Treatment of Anxiety in Autism Spectrum Disorder (TAASD) Study: Rationale, Design and Methods.

This paper describes the rationale, design, and methods of the Treatment for Anxiety in Autism Spectrum Disorders study, a three-site randomized controlled trial investigating the relative efficacy of a modular CBT protocol for anxiety in ASD (Behavioral Interventions for Anxiety in Children with Autism) versus standard CBT for pediatric anxiety (the program) and a treatment-as-usual control. The trial is distinct in its scope, its direct comparison of active treatments for anxiety in ASD, and its comprehensive approach to assessing anxiety difficulties in youth with ASD. The trial will evaluate the relative benefits of CBT for children with ASD and investigate potential moderators (ASD severity, anxiety presentation, comorbidity) and mediators of treatment response, essential steps for future dissemination and implementation.

A Double-Blind Randomized Placebo-Controlled Pilot Study of Azithromycin in Youth with Acute-Onset Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder.

Objectives: Sudden and severe onset of obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) may present secondary to infectious and/or immune-mediated triggers. We assessed the preliminary efficacy, tolerability, and safety of azithromycin compared with placebo in the treatment of OCD and associated symptoms in children with pediatric acute-onset neuropsychiatric syndrome (PANS).

Methods: Thirty-one youth aged 4-14 years (M = 8.

Design of a Multisite Study Assessing the Impact of Tic Disorders on Individuals, Families, and Communities.

Background: Tic disorders, including Tourette syndrome, are complex, multisymptom diseases, yet the impact of these disorders on affected children, families, and communities is not well understood.

Methods: To improve the understanding of the impacts of Tourette syndrome, two research groups conducted independent cross-sectional studies using qualitative and quantitative measures. They focused on similar themes, but distinct scientific objectives, and the sites collaborated to align methods of independent research proposals with the aim of increasing the analyzable sample size.

Examination of the Phenomenology and Clinical Correlates of Emetophobia in a Sample of Salvadorian Youths.

Emetophobia is an under-researched disorder characterized by a specific fear of vomiting. There is a paucity of research on this impairing condition, with extant examinations being largely limited to adult samples and online communities. The present study examined the incidence, phenomenology, and correlates of emetophobia in 305 Salvadorian youths.

A meta-analysis of family accommodation and OCD symptom severity.

Family accommodation in obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) is characterized by myriad behaviors, such as modifying family routines, facilitating avoidance, and engaging in compulsions to reduce obsessional distress. It has been linked to various deleterious outcomes including increased functional impairment and poorer treatment response for OCD. Although extant literature suggests a linear relationship between family accommodation and OCD symptom severity, the magnitude and statistical significance of this association has been inconsistent across studies, indicating that moderators may be influencing this relationship.

Hoarding in Youth with Autism Spectrum Disorders and Anxiety: Incidence, Clinical Correlates, and Behavioral Treatment Response.

This study examined the nature and correlates of hoarding among youth with autism spectrum disorders (ASD). Forty children with ASD and a comorbid anxiety disorder were administered a battery of clinician-administered measures assessing presence of psychiatric disorders and anxiety severity. Parents completed questionnaires related to child hoarding behaviors, social responsiveness, internalizing and externalizing behaviors, and functional impairment.

Treatment Concerns and Functional Impairment in Pediatric Anxiety.

Although there are efficacious, evidence-based treatments for anxiety disorders, youth often experience delays in seeking therapy. Myriad reasons may contribute to this lag in treatment initiation, with some youth possessing concerns about therapy. Treatment concerns are broadly characterized by worries/ambivalence about seeking treatment, including concerns about the negative reactions, consequences, and inconvenience of treatment.

A RANDOMIZED CONTROLLED TRIAL IN COMMUNITY MENTAL HEALTH CENTERS OF COMPUTER-ASSISTED COGNITIVE BEHAVIORAL THERAPY VERSUS TREATMENT AS USUAL FOR CHILDREN WITH ANXIETY.

Objective: This study aims to examine the real-world effectiveness of a computer-assisted cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) protocol relative to treatment as usual (TAU) among anxious children presenting at community mental health centers.

Methods: One hundred children (7-13 years) with clinically significant anxiety were randomized to receive either 12 weekly computer-assisted CBT sessions or TAU for an equivalent duration. Assessments were conducted by independent evaluators at screening/baseline, midtreatment, posttreatment, and 1-month followup (for computer-assisted CBT treatment responders).

Contemporary models of pediatric obsessive-compulsive disorder: An evaluation with a large clinical sample.

We evaluated the construct validity of the Child Yale-Brofwn Obsessive-Compulsive Scale (CYBOCS) in a large clinical sample (N=730) using confirmatory factor analysis. Results found inadequate fit for a priori models, though a model accounting for overlapping item content displayed good fit. Parallel obsessions/compulsions items may provide largely redundant information on the CYBOCS.

Predictors of treatment response to intensive cognitive-behavioral therapy for pediatric obsessive-compulsive disorder.

Intensive outpatient treatments for pediatric obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) have demonstrated efficacy for treating youth with OCD and may be especially useful for youth with severe symptomology and/or those who are partial- or non-responders to other forms of intervention. However, participation in these treatments can present challenges for youth and their families, and it is unclear if intensive treatments are more appropriate for certain individuals than others. Identification of potential predictors of treatment response and viability of intensive treatment at an individual level may aid families in their decision to participate in intensive cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT).

Cognitive behavior therapy for obsessive-compulsive and related disorders.

Cognitive behavior therapy (CBT) is considered a first-line intervention for obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) across the lifespan. Efficacy studies of CBT with exposure and response prevention suggest robust symptom reduction, often with sustained remission. Acceptability of CBT is high, and the treatment is devoid of adverse side effects.

Neuropsychological functioning in youth with obsessive compulsive disorder: an examination of executive function and memory impairment.

Preliminary research suggests neuropsychological deficits in youth with obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) similar to those in adults; however, small samples and methodological confounds limit interpretation. We aimed to examine the rates and clinical correlates of cognitive sequelae in youth with OCD, focusing on executive functioning and memory abilities. Youth ages 7-17 years with OCD (N=96) completed a hypothesis-driven neuropsychological battery (including the Rey-Osterreith Complex Figure, California Verbal Learning Test, and subtests of the Delis-Kaplan Executive Function System and Wide Range Assessment of Memory and Learning) that primarily assessed executive functioning, memory and processing speed.