TY  - JOUR
A1  - Walitza, Susanne
A1  - Melfsen, Siebke
A1  - Jans, Thomas
A1  - Zellmann, Henrike
A1  - Wewetzer, Christoph
A1  - Warnke, Andreas
T1  - Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder in Children and Adolescents
JF  - Deutsches Ärzteblatt International
N2  - Background: 

Early-onset obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) is one of the more common mental illnesses of children and adolescents, with prevalence of 1% to 3%. Its manifestations often lead to severe impairment and to conflict in the family. In this review, we summarize the manifestations, comorbidity, pathophysiology, and course of this disease as well as current modes of diagnosis and treatment. 

Methods: 

We selectively review the relevant literature and the German-language guidelines for the diagnosis and treatment of mental illnesses in children and adolescents. 

Results: 

Obsessive-compulsive manifestations are of many types and cause severe impairment. Comorbid mental disturbances are present in as many as 70% of patients. The disease takes a chronic course in more than 40% of patients. Cognitive behavioral therapy is the treatment of first choice, followed by combination pharmacotherapy including selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRI) and then by SSRI alone. 

Conclusion: 

OCD often begins in childhood or adolescence. There are empirically based neurobiological and cognitive-behavioral models of its pathophysiology. Multiaxial diagnostic evaluation permits early diagnosis. Behavioral therapy and medications are highly effective treatments, but the disorder nonetheless takes a chronic course in a large percentage of patients.
KW  - Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder
KW  - Comorbidity survey replication
KW  - DSM-IV disorders
KW  - Early-onset
KW  - Follow-up
KW  - Childhood
KW  - Metaanalysis
KW  - Prevalence
KW  - Therapy
KW  - Scale
Y1  - 2011
U6  - http://nbn-resolving.de/urn/resolver.pl?urn:nbn:de:bvb:20-opus-141214
VL  - 108
IS  - 11
ER  -