Korean J Psychopharmacol.  2003 Jun;14(2):119-128.

Child and Adolescent Onset Obsessive Compulsive Disorder

• Kim BN

Abstract

Obsessive compulsive disorder with child & adolescent onset (C-OCD) is not a rare disorder. Though OCD patients with prepubertal onset is scarce, the prevalence of OCD with postpubertal, adolescent onset reach nearly that of adult OCD. In clinical features, C-OCD resemble adult OCD. However, the other features of pediatric OCD are different from those of adult OCD. The sex ratio of pediatric OCD is male dominant and C-OCD show high comorbid rate with tic disorder, which is not prevailing in adult OCD. Family data analysis of tic disorder and C-OCD reveal the close genetic linkage between two disorders. Neuroimaging studies of C-OCD indicate very consistent findings in basal ganglia volume change (usually reduction of striatum) that may not be so consistent in adult OCD. SSRIs are less effective in C-OCD and combined therapy with antipsychotics is more frequently needed than adult OCD. In conclusion, child and adolescent OCD can be a distinctive subtype of OCD that is different from adult OCD in many ways.

Keyword

Child and adolescent OCD; Epidemiology; Clinical features; Neurobiology; Treatment

MeSH Terms

Adolescent*
Adult
Antipsychotic Agents
Basal Ganglia
Child*
Epidemiology
Genetic Linkage
Humans
Male
Neurobiology
Neuroimaging
Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder*
Prevalence
Sex Ratio
Statistics as Topic
Tic Disorders
Antipsychotic Agents