PT  - JOURNAL ARTICLE
AU  - Georgina Krebs
AU  - Isobel Heyman
TI  - Obsessive-compulsive disorder in children and adolescents
AID  - 10.1136/archdischild-2014-306934
DP  - 2014 Nov 14
TA  - Archives of Disease in Childhood
PG  - archdischild-2014-306934
4099  - http://adc.bmj.com/content/early/2014/11/14/archdischild-2014-306934.short
4100  - http://adc.bmj.com/content/early/2014/11/14/archdischild-2014-306934.full
AB  - Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) in childhood and adolescence is an impairing condition, associated with a specific set of distressing symptoms incorporating repetitive, intrusive thoughts (obsessions) and distressing, time-consuming rituals (compulsions). This review considers current knowledge of causes and mechanisms underlying OCD, as well as assessment and treatment. Issues relating to differential diagnosis are summarised, including the challenges of distinguishing OCD from autism spectrum disorders and tic disorders in youth. The recommended treatments, namely cognitive behaviour therapy and serotonin reuptake inhibiting/selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor medications, are outlined along with the existing evidence-based and factors associated with treatment resistance. Finally, novel clinical developments that are emerging in the field and future directions for research are discussed.