McLean Clinicians Pioneer New Models to Combat Childhood OCD Treatment Crisis

McLean Hospital clinicians are spearheading innovative treatment models to address the critical shortage of affordable and accessible therapy for children and adolescents battling Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD). These new approaches offer a beacon of hope for families often facing prohibitive costs and extensive waitlists for specialized care.

nih.gov reported, A significant development is InStride Health, a virtual treatment program launched in October 2022 by McLean-affiliated experts Dr. Mona Potter and Dr. Kathryn Boger. This initiative provides technology-enhanced mental health care for children and adolescents with moderate to severe anxiety and OCD, directly tackling barriers to access.

InStride Health, co-founded by clinicians from McLean's nationally recognized Anxiety Mastery Program (MAMP), leverages a coordinated outpatient virtual care model. It integrates individual, family, and group therapy, coaching, and medication management, making evidence-based treatment more convenient and affordable.

news-medical.net noted, The core of these treatments relies on Exposure and Response Prevention (ERP), a highly effective cognitive-behavioral therapy. ERP helps young patients confront their fears and resist compulsive behaviors, a method consistently proven to reduce OCD symptoms and improve quality of life.

Beyond virtual care, McLean Hospital also operates the OCD Institute for Children and Adolescents (OCDI Jr.), a residential program for severe cases. Reopened in 2020 with enhanced programming, OCDI Jr. provides intensive, 24/7 ERP-based treatment and medication management in Belmont, Massachusetts.

instride.health reported, These comprehensive efforts aim to bridge the "treatment gap" and "quality gap" in pediatric OCD care, ensuring more children receive timely and effective interventions. By offering diverse, evidence-based options, McLean is setting a new standard for mental health accessibility.

The initiatives underscore a commitment to providing specialized care that addresses the unique needs of young people with OCD, fostering long-term recovery and improved functioning. This multi-pronged strategy provides much-needed relief for families navigating complex mental health challenges.

• nih.gov noted, Pediatric Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD) is a debilitating condition affecting 1%–3% of children worldwide, significantly impacting their quality of life and development. Symptoms often emerge between ages 8 and 12, or in the late teens, and can lead to chronic impairment if left untreated, increasing risks of other psychiatric disorders. Despite its prevalence, there's a significant delay, often over a decade, from symptom onset to appropriate treatment.

• A major challenge in pediatric OCD treatment is the "treatment gap," where many children never receive mental health services, and a "quality gap," where those who do, often don't receive evidence-based care. Barriers include long waitlists, high costs of specialized therapy, limited availability of clinicians trained in pediatric ERP, and a general lack of awareness or misdiagnosis of the disorder.

• news-medical.net reported, Exposure and Response Prevention (ERP) is widely recognized as the gold-standard, first-line treatment for OCD in children and adolescents. This cognitive-behavioral therapy involves gradually exposing individuals to their feared thoughts or situations while preventing them from engaging in compulsive rituals. Through this process, patients learn that their fears are often unfounded and that anxiety naturally subsides, leading to reduced symptoms.

• InStride Health, launched in October 2022, represents a virtual solution to expand access to care. Co-founded by McLean Hospital-affiliated clinicians Dr. Mona Potter and Dr. Kathryn Boger, it provides a technology-enhanced model for children and adolescents aged 7-22 with moderate to severe anxiety and OCD. The program offers individual, family, and group therapy, coaching, and medication management, utilizing evidence-based approaches like CBT, ERP, and ACT, all delivered virtually.

• instride.health noted, For more severe and treatment-resistant cases, McLean Hospital offers the OCD Institute for Children and Adolescents (OCDI Jr.), a residential treatment program in Belmont, Massachusetts. Reopened in 2020, OCDI Jr. provides intensive, 24/7 care for adolescents aged 12-18, focusing on ERP-based treatment and medication management within a therapeutic environment. The program also emphasizes family involvement through weekly meetings and psychoeducation.

• McLean's Anxiety Mastery Program (MAMP) has also explored hybrid treatment formats, combining in-person and virtual sessions for children and adolescents with anxiety and OCD. Research led by Dr. Jacqueline Sperling, co-program director of MAMP, indicates that this intensive hybrid model can yield lasting improvements in symptoms and functional impairment, even after discharge, offering a flexible and effective care delivery option.

• nih.gov reported, Family involvement is a crucial component across McLean's treatment models. Programs like OCDI Jr. and InStride Health actively engage parents and caregivers, providing psychoeducation and strategies to reduce family accommodation of OCD symptoms. This collaborative approach helps families support their child's treatment gains and manage the disorder effectively in the home environment, which is vital for long-term success.

• The development of these varied treatment models, including virtual, residential, and hybrid options, reflects a broader movement towards a "staged-care model" for pediatric OCD. This approach aims to provide hierarchically arranged service packages tailored to the severity of illness, comorbidity, and prior treatment history, ensuring high-quality, evidence-based CBT-ERP is accessible across different levels of need.