Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder in Children and Adolescents: An Overview

Abstract

Pediatric obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) is a complex neuropsychiatric disorder that is characterized by the presence of distressing and impairing recurrent obsessions and/or compulsions. OCD affects up to 4% of children and adolescents, and constitutes a significant societal burden and causes marked distress and functional impairments in affected people and their families. The assessment of pediatric OCD should comprehensively capture comorbid conditions. Cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) is the first-line treatment for pediatric OCD. For moderate to severe cases, CBT may be combined with pharmacological treatment. First-line medications for pediatric OCD are selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors, and the US Food and Drug Administration has approved fluoxetine, sertraline, and fluvoxamine for use in pediatric OCD. Most children with OCD achieve remission or significant improvement in their symptoms. [ Psychiatr Ann. 2017;47(10):512–518.]