Beschreibung:
Over the past decade, an increasing body of research has been conducted on evidence-based psychological and psychiatric treatment for pediatric obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD). Despite this improved understanding, however, these treatments are not being performed. This study descriptively examined the practices and views of school psychologists on the management of pediatric OCD. Two hundred twenty-seven clinicians responded to a survey adapted from previous work by Valderhaug, Gotestam, and Larsson. Results suggested that school psychologists preferred cognitive-behavioral, medical, and family/systemic orientations relative to psychodynamic and humanistic approaches. Although respondents reported an adherence to evidence-based treatment, only 7% reported using behavioral exposure. Many respondents reported only moderate treatment success and expressed an overwhelming need for further training in both the assessment and treatment of pediatric OCD. Our results suggest that school psychologists are not adequately trained to assess and provide evidence-based treatment of pediatric OCD.