Variations in Symptom Prevalence and Clinical Correlates in Younger Versus Older Youth with Obsessive–Compulsive Disorder

• Published in: Child psychiatry and human development Vol. 45; no. 6; pp. 666 - 674
• Main Authors: Selles, Robert R., Storch, Eric A., Lewin, Adam B.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Boston Springer US 01-12-2014; Springer; Springer Nature B.V
• Subjects: Adolescent; Adolescents; Adult and adolescent clinical studies; Adults; Age differences; Age Factors; Anxiety - diagnosis; Anxiety Disorders; Anxiety disorders. Neuroses; Behavioral Science and Psychology; Biological and medical sciences; Child; Child & adolescent psychiatry; Child and School Psychology; Child clinical studies; Child, Preschool; Compulsive Behavior - diagnosis; Female; Humans; Male; Medical sciences; Neuroses; Obsessive compulsive disorder; Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder - diagnosis; Obsessive-compulsive disorders; Original Article; Psychiatric Status Rating Scales; Psychiatry; Psychology; Psychology. Psychoanalysis. Psychiatry; Psychopathology; Psychopathology. Psychiatry; Severity of Illness Index; Symptom Assessment; Obsessive–compulsive disorder; Children; Assessment; Age differences; Human; Obsessive compulsive disorder; Prevalence; Chiidren; Anxiety disorder; Epidemiology; Symptomatology; Obsessive―compulsive disorder; Adolescent; Child; Public health; Age
• ISSN: 0009-398X; 1573-3327
• DOI: 10.1007/s10578-014-0435-9

Few studies have examined the phenomenology of obsessive–compulsive disorder (OCD) in younger children. A sample of 292 treatment seeking youth with a primary diagnosis of OCD was divided into the young child (3–9 years old) and older child (10–18 years old) groups. Overall OCD severity did not differ between groups. However, older youth demonstrated stronger intensity of obsessive and compulsive symptoms, while younger children were rated as having less resistance and control of compulsions. Older youth exhibited increased occurrence of comorbid depression, and an increased occurrence of sexual, magical thinking, and somatic obsessions, as well as, checking, counting and magical thinking compulsions. Conversely, the group of younger children exhibited significantly poorer insight, increased incidence of hoarding compulsions, higher rates of comorbid attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder, disruptive behavior, and parent-rated anxiety, and more frequently exhibited hoarding compulsions. These differences suggest domains to consider when screening for OCD among younger/older pediatric cohorts.