Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for Adolescent Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder with Comorbid Stuttering: A Single-Case Report
Journal of Rational - Emotive and Cognitive - Behavior Therapy, cilt.44, sa.4, 2026 (SSCI, Scopus)
- Yayın Türü: Makale / Tam Makale
- Cilt numarası: 44 Sayı: 4
- Basım Tarihi: 2026
- Doi Numarası: 10.1007/s10942-026-00689-3
- Dergi Adı: Journal of Rational - Emotive and Cognitive - Behavior Therapy
- Derginin Tarandığı İndeksler: Social Sciences Citation Index (SSCI), Scopus, IBZ Online, Psycinfo, Social Science Premium Collection (ProQuest), Health Research Premium Collection (ProQuest), Pharma Collection (ProQuest), Sociology Database (ProQuest)
- Anahtar Kelimeler: Adolescence, Cognitive behavioral therapy, Exposure and response prevention, Obsessive-compulsive disorder, Stuttering
- Bursa Uludağ Üniversitesi Adresli: Evet
Özet
This study presents a single-case report of a 16-session Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) intervention conducted with an adolescent diagnosed with Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD) who also had a long-standing speech fluency disorder (stuttering). The client was referred to psychotherapy by a psychiatrist due to persistent intrusive thoughts and compulsive behaviors that significantly interfered with daily functioning. A cognitive-behavioral case formulation was developed by considering the client’s developmental history, cognitive interpretations of intrusive thoughts, and factors maintaining obsessive-compulsive symptoms. The intervention included psychoeducation, cognitive restructuring, Exposure and Response Prevention (ERP), emotional tolerance exercises, and work on cognitive processes such as thought–action fusion, inflated responsibility, and intolerance of uncertainty. The presence of stuttering created challenges in the use of structured psychometric assessment tools, as the client experienced significant anxiety and speech disruptions during standardized evaluation procedures. Therefore, treatment progress was evaluated through clinical observations, session-based self-reports, behavioral indicators of change, and follow-up interviews. Throughout the therapeutic process, reductions were observed in compulsive behaviors, fear-based interpretations of intrusive thoughts, and reliance on neutralization strategies, while improvements were noted in emotional tolerance, self-efficacy, and daily functioning. Follow-up sessions conducted 30 and 60 days after the completion of therapy suggested that the observed improvements were largely maintained over time. This case highlights the clinical considerations involved in implementing CBT and ERP for adolescent OCD when obsessive-compulsive symptoms are accompanied by a speech fluency disorder and illustrates how communication-related needs may influence assessment and treatment processes.