Pharmacological treatment of pediatric obsessive–compulsive disorder

Abstract

Obsessive–compulsive disorder is a far from rare neuropsychiatric disorder in children and adolescents which affects approximately 1–1.5% of the pediatric population. Obsessive–compulsive disorder is defined by the presence of obsessions and/or compulsions. It often takes a chronic course with either persistent, constantly distressing obsessive–compulsive symptoms or a waxing and waning course. The best documented and most efficient treatment is cognitive behavioural therapy and antidepressant medication with serotonin specific agents. In most cases, an improvement rate of 20–50% is reported following medication alone.

• children
• obsessive-compulsive disorder
• pharmacological treatment