Obsessive-compulsive disorder in children and adolescents. A 6-22 year follow-up study of social outcome

Abstract

Twenty-eight adult males and 19 females with childhood obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) were followed-up in young adulthood, six to 22 years after their first referral, and their social outcome was described. The overall, social outcome was illustrated with The Global Assessment Scale (GAS). Ten patients (21.2%) had a poor outcome with GAS-scores under 50; 19 patients (40.4%) had a GAS-score between 50 and 70; and 18 (38.3%) of the patients had a good prognosis with GAS-scores over 70. Childhood OCD-patients were more socially isolated in adulthood than a non-OCD psychiatric comparison group and an age and sex standardised group from the normal population: more still lived with their parents, and fewer had partnerships. Seventeen percent had been granted disability pension, which was significantly different from the normal population, but not from that of the psychiatric comparison group. Age of onset of OCD, social background factors, and symptomatology in childhood did not seem to predict the social outcome. OCD at follow-up was strongly associated with a poor outcome.