Multifamily therapy for young people with OCD: An acceptability and satisfaction study

Abstract

Individual cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) is the recommended first-line psychological treatment for young people with obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), with good outcomes. However, because some young people only partially respond to CBT, it is necessary to improve treatment outcomes. This is the first study to explore the acceptability and satisfaction of a new multifamily therapy (MFT). Three groups were attended by 16 young people with OCD, their parents, and siblings. Parents and young people completed questionnaires and focus groups. Thematic analysis was applied to transcripts of focus groups. The majority of young people and parents (93.9%) were satisfied or very satisfied. Thematic analysis identified benefits, including increased understanding of OCD, support from the group, and a feeling of not being alone. Further research is required to establish the group's effectiveness on OCD symptom severity and to identify the factors that MFT addresses. MFT shows promise as an acceptable and satisfactory treatment.