Obsessive compulsive disorder

BACKGROUND: Autoimmune-mediated basal ganglia dysfunction is implicated in the pathophysiology of neuropsychiatric disorders commonly manifesting with obsessive-compulsive features (e.g. Sydenham chorea). The relationship between autoimmunity and primary obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), however, is less clear. AIMS: To pool data on serum and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) anti-basal ganglia antibody (ABGA) positivity in primary OCD (without neurological or autoimmune comorbidity) relative to controls or neuropsychiatric disorders previously associated with increased odds of ABGA positivity...

For pediatric patients with obsessive-compulsive disorder, clinicians must address particular diagnostic and treatment challenges. Children with obsessive-compulsive disorder may have little insight into their obsessions and compulsions, requiring clinicians to provide age-appropriate education, motivation, and therapy. Treatment should take into account children's developmental level, family accommodation, and comorbidities. If the onset of obsessive-compulsive disorder is sudden, clinicians may use pediatric acute-onset neuropsychiatric syndrome criteria and conduct appropriate tests...

Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) is characterized by repetitive thoughts and behaviours that are experienced as unwanted. Family and twin studies have demonstrated that OCD is a multifactorial familial condition that involves both polygenic and environmental risk factors. Neuroimaging studies have implicated the cortico-striato-thalamo-cortical circuit in the pathophysiology of the disorder, which is supported by the observation of specific neuropsychological impairments in patients with OCD, mainly in executive functions...

This article presents an overview of the existing, as well as newly developed, cognitive behavior therapy methods for treating the child anxiety triad (separation anxiety disorder, generalized anxiety disorder, and social phobia). For each disorder of the triad, the authors review diagnostic criteria, clinical presentation, disorder-specific treatment methods and innovations, and future directions for research.

This article is a review of recent literature on obsessive-compulsive disorder in the pediatric population. Areas covered include: a brief historical perspective, clinical presentation in relation to symptoms found in different age groups, epidemiology, psychiatric comorbidity, etiology (with regards to genetics, neuroimaging, and familial factors), clinical course and prognosis, and treatment, with special emphasis on individual and family-based cognitive-behavioral therapy and psychopharmacology.

Knowledge of pharmacotherapeutic treatment options in obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) has grown considerably over the past 40 years. Serotonergic antidepressants, such as selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRls) and clomipramine, are the established pharmacologic first-line treatment of OCD. Medium to large dosages and acute treatment for at least 3 months are recommended until efficacy is assessed. In case of significant improvement, maintenance treatment is necessary, Unfortunately, about half of the patients do not respond sufficiently to oral serotonergic antidepressants; augmentation with atypical antipsychotics is an established second-line drug treatment strategy...

Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) is a serious psychiatric disorder that affects approximately 2% of the populations of children and adults. Family aggregation studies have demonstrated that OCD is familial, and results from twin studies demonstrate that the familiality is due in part to genetic factors. Only three genome-wide linkage studies have been completed to date, with suggestive but not definitive results. In addition, over 80 candidate gene studies have been published. Most of these studies have focused on genes in the serotonergic and dopaminergic pathways...