Obsessive-compulsive Disorder in Children and Adolescents: a Review of the Past 10 Years

Objective: To review the literature on pediatric obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) from the perspective of information relevant to American Board of Psychiatry and Neurology recertification in child and adolescent psychiatry.

Method: The clinical and research literatures were systematically searched or articles that address the diagnosis and treatment of pediatric OCD.

Results: Drawing from the literature and their own clinical experience, the authors note that (1) OCD is a common neuropsychiatric disorder; (2) comorbidity is common, especially with tic, attention-deficit, anxiety, and affective disorders; (3) OCD following group A beta-hemolytic streptococcal infection may define an autoimmune sub-grouping calling for immunomodulatory treatments; and (4) OCD-specific cognitive-behavioral psychotherapy and pharmacotherapy with a serotonin reuptake inhibitor define the psychotherapeutic and pharmacotherapeutic treatments of choice, respectively.

Conclusion: Child psychiatrists should be familiar with the differential diagnosis and treatment of OCD.