Skip to main page content
U.S. flag

An official website of the United States government

Dot gov

The .gov means it’s official.
Federal government websites often end in .gov or .mil. Before sharing sensitive information, make sure you’re on a federal government site.

Https

The site is secure.
The https:// ensures that you are connecting to the official website and that any information you provide is encrypted and transmitted securely.

Access keys NCBI Homepage MyNCBI Homepage Main Content Main Navigation
Review
. 2015 May;100(5):495-9.
doi: 10.1136/archdischild-2014-306934. Epub 2014 Nov 14.

Obsessive-compulsive disorder in children and adolescents

Georgina Krebs  1 , Isobel Heyman  2
Affiliations
Review

Obsessive-compulsive disorder in children and adolescents

Georgina Krebs et al. Arch Dis Child. 2015 May.

Abstract

Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) in childhood and adolescence is an impairing condition, associated with a specific set of distressing symptoms incorporating repetitive, intrusive thoughts (obsessions) and distressing, time-consuming rituals (compulsions). This review considers current knowledge of causes and mechanisms underlying OCD, as well as assessment and treatment. Issues relating to differential diagnosis are summarised, including the challenges of distinguishing OCD from autism spectrum disorders and tic disorders in youth. The recommended treatments, namely cognitive behaviour therapy and serotonin reuptake inhibiting/selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor medications, are outlined along with the existing evidence-based and factors associated with treatment resistance. Finally, novel clinical developments that are emerging in the field and future directions for research are discussed.

Keywords: Child Psychiatry; Child Psychology; Outcomes research; Psychology.

PubMed Disclaimer

References

    1. Flament MF, Whitaker A, Rapoport JL, et al. . Obsessive compulsive disorder in adolescence: an epidemiological study. J Am Acad Child Adolesc Psychiatry 1988;27:764–71. - PubMed
    1. Heyman I, Fombonne E, Simmons H, et al. . Prevalence of obsessive—compulsive disorder in the British nationwide survey of child mental health. Br J Psychiatry 2001;179:324–9. - PubMed
    1. Douglass HM, Moffitt TE, Dar R, et al. . Obsessive-compulsive disorder in a birth cohort of 18-year-olds: prevalence and predictors. J Am Acad Child Adolesc Psychiatry 1995;34:1424–31. - PubMed
    1. Skoog G, Skoog I. A 40-year follow-up of patients with obsessive-compulsive disorder. Arch Gen Psychiatry 1999;56:121–7. - PubMed
    1. Stewart S, Geller D, Jenike M, et al. . Long-term outcome of pediatric obsessive–compulsive disorder: a meta-analysis and qualitative review of the literature. Acta Psychiatr Scand 2004;110:4–13. - PubMed

MeSH terms

Substances