Abstract
Objectives
Sexual obsessions including thoughts about sexual acts with family members, sexually inappropriate behavior, or homosexual orientation may remain undiagnosed because of embarrassment to report thoughts that are perceived as unacceptable. This study investigated prevalence of sexual obsessions and treatment outcome.
Methods
Sexual obsessions and OCD severity were assessed with the Children’s Yale-Brown Obsessive- Compulsive Scale in all 269 participants of the Nordic Long-term OCD Treatment study (mean age 12.8 years, 48.7% boys) at baseline, after treatment and three years follow-up. Treatment consisted in individual manualized Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) with exposure and response prevention. Patients with and without sexual obsessions were compared on clinical characteristics and treatment outcomes.
Results
Sexual obsessions were reported by 18% of the NordLOTS sample. Participants with sexual obsessions were slightly older than those without (13.5 versus 12.7 years). Both groups had no difference in treatment outcome.
Conclusion
Our results suggest that a considerable number of children with OCD experience sexual obsessions. If addressed and treated, the response to CBT is similar as in other obsessions. Sexual obsessions may add a significant load of distress and embarrassment to the burden of exaggerated worries present in OCD. CBT practitioners need to be aware that sexual obsessions might be disguised and not disclosed during assessment and the treatment course. Clinicians need to assist the child to identify these obsessions in a sensitive dialogue and to address them in treatment. Findings, including case examples, will be discussed and implications for clinical practice outlined.
Sexual obsessions including thoughts about sexual acts with family members, sexually inappropriate behavior, or homosexual orientation may remain undiagnosed because of embarrassment to report thoughts that are perceived as unacceptable. This study investigated prevalence of sexual obsessions and treatment outcome.
Methods
Sexual obsessions and OCD severity were assessed with the Children’s Yale-Brown Obsessive- Compulsive Scale in all 269 participants of the Nordic Long-term OCD Treatment study (mean age 12.8 years, 48.7% boys) at baseline, after treatment and three years follow-up. Treatment consisted in individual manualized Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) with exposure and response prevention. Patients with and without sexual obsessions were compared on clinical characteristics and treatment outcomes.
Results
Sexual obsessions were reported by 18% of the NordLOTS sample. Participants with sexual obsessions were slightly older than those without (13.5 versus 12.7 years). Both groups had no difference in treatment outcome.
Conclusion
Our results suggest that a considerable number of children with OCD experience sexual obsessions. If addressed and treated, the response to CBT is similar as in other obsessions. Sexual obsessions may add a significant load of distress and embarrassment to the burden of exaggerated worries present in OCD. CBT practitioners need to be aware that sexual obsessions might be disguised and not disclosed during assessment and the treatment course. Clinicians need to assist the child to identify these obsessions in a sensitive dialogue and to address them in treatment. Findings, including case examples, will be discussed and implications for clinical practice outlined.
| Original language | English |
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| Publication date | 1 Jul 2023 |
| Publication status | Published - 1 Jul 2023 |
| Event | 20th International Congress of the European Society for Child and Adolescent Psychiatry - Copenhagen, Denmark Duration: 29 Jun 2023 → 1 Jul 2023 Conference number: 20 https://www.escap2023.eu/ |
Conference
| Conference | 20th International Congress of the European Society for Child and Adolescent Psychiatry |
|---|---|
| Number | 20 |
| Country/Territory | Denmark |
| City | Copenhagen |
| Period | 29/06/2023 → 01/07/2023 |
| Internet address |