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Evaluation of quality of life therapy for parents of children with obsessive–compulsive disorders in Iran

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Abstract

Previous research has provided evidence on the effectiveness of CBT in the symptomatic improvement of children with obsessive–compulsive disorders. There is also increasing recognition of the importance of involving parents and families in treatment. The aim of this study was to evaluate the short-term effectiveness of such an intervention that promoted family strengths [(quality of life therapy (QoLT)] for mothers of children with obsessive–compulsive disorders (OCD). The sample consisted of 40 children with OCD and their mothers, who had been referred to clinics in Esfahan city in Iran. Mothers were randomly allocated to an experimental (QoLT) and waiting list control group. Mothers participated in eight QoLT group sessions over 4 weeks. QoLT incorporated CBT techniques in managing OCD symptoms. Measures were completed pre- and post-intervention by both groups. Children completed the Yale–Brown obsession compulsion scale for Children, the Revised children’s manifest anxiety scale, and the brief multidimensional student’s life satisfaction scale; mothers completed the quality of life inventory (QoLI). QoLT was associated with decrease in OCD and anxiety symptoms and increase in children’s satisfaction in the global, family and environment domains, as well as with increased QoLI scores in their mothers. Parenting interventions like QoLT can complement individual modalities such as CBT in the presence of family-related difficulties. This can be particularly applicable in countries and settings with limited resources and high stigma of child mental health problems.

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Acknowledgments

This research was accomplished during the period of the first author’s sabbatical leave that was supported by the University of Esfahan in Iran, in collaboration with the Greenwood Institute of Child Heath, of the University of Leicester in the UK. We wish to thank both Universities; Dr John Bankart for his helpful suggestions on the statistical analysis; and the Esfahan Counseling and Psychiatric Clinics, especially the Esfahan psychiatric and Counseling Centre, for their generous co-operation. Above all, we are grateful to all the mothers and children who participated in the study.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Faculty of Education and Psychology, University of Esfahan, Hezarjerib Street, Esfahän, Iran

    Mohammad Reza Abedi

  2. Greenwood Institute of Child Health, University of Leicester, Westcotes House, Westcotes Drive, Leicester, LE3 0QU, UK

    Panos Vostanis

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  1. Mohammad Reza Abedi
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  2. Panos Vostanis
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Correspondence to Panos Vostanis.

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Abedi, M.R., Vostanis, P. Evaluation of quality of life therapy for parents of children with obsessive–compulsive disorders in Iran. Eur Child Adolesc Psychiatry 19, 605–613 (2010). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00787-010-0098-4

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00787-010-0098-4

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