23rd Annual OCD Conference

Family accommodation of children with OCD involves behaviors on the part of family members to reduce or eliminate distressing aspects of the disorder for the child. Caregivers may assist with rituals, encourage avoidance of triggers, provide reassurance or promote the use of safety behaviors. Accommodation can have a negative impact on family functioning and a child's response to treatment. Many parents struggle with finding the right balance between empathy and accommodation. In this lecture for parents and family members of those with OCD, we will review research on family accommodation within OCD and frequently co-occurring disorders. We will also describe ways families accommodate, and offer methods to reduce accommodations. Ample time will be allotted for questions from the audience.