Effects of Exposure and Response Prevention–Based Parent–Child Interaction Therapy on Working Memory and Response Inhibition in Children with Obsessive–Compulsive Disorder

Background: Childhood obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) is a chronic neurodevelopmental condition associated with significant functional impairment and executive dysfunction, particularly in working memory and response inhibition. Although exposure and response prevention (ERP) is considered the gold standard of treatment, its effectiveness in children may be limited by developmental factors and family accommodation. This study examined the effects of Exposure and Response Prevention–based Parent-Child Interaction Therapy (EPCIT) on executive functioning in children with OCD.Methods: A quasi-experimental, single-case, series design with multiple baselines was conducted in ۲۰۲۵ in Karaj, Iran. Three children aged ۵–۹ years with a DSM-۵ diagnosis of OCD were selected through purposive sampling. The intervention consisted of ۱۱ structured EPCIT sessions that integrated ERP within a parent-child interaction framework. Working memory and executive functions were assessed using the Behavior Rating Inventory of Executive Function (BRIEF), and OCD severity was measured using the Yale–Brown Obsessive Compulsive Scale for Children (Y-BOCS). Data were analyzed using visual inspection and single-case effect size indices (PND and POD).Results: Findings indicated consistent improvements in working memory across all participants following the intervention. Two participants showed improvement in response inhibition and related executive functions, and most of these gains were maintained at follow-up. Visual and quantitative analyses supported a positive intervention effect, particularly for working memory.Conclusion: EPCIT is a promising family-based intervention that enhances executive functioning and reduces OCD-related impairment in children. However, due to the limited sample size and single-case design, larger samples are required in randomized controlled studies.

کلیدواژه ها:

Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder ، Exposure and Response Prevention ، Parent-Child Interaction Therapy ، Working Memory ، Response Inhibition ، Executive Functions ، Children