Abstract
BACKGROUND: Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) is a common psychiatric illness in children and adolescents. Till date, the sample sizes in the Indian studies have been relatively small. METHODOLOGY: The present study is a retrospective chart review of a large sample of children and adolescents diagnosed with OCD in a tertiary care center. OBJECTIVES: The objectives of this study were to characterize the clinical profile and to evaluate outcome of OCD in children and adolescents. RESULTS: Fear of contamination and washing/cleaning compulsions were the most common presenting symptoms. Most of the patients were male with two-thirds having a comorbid disorder. Major depressive disorder was the most common comorbid disorder. The rates of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, disruptive behavioral disorders, and tic disorders were low when compared to Western studies. One-third of the patients received adequate trial of serotonin reuptake inhibitors and 36% received cognitive behavior therapy. Fifty-four percent of patients had a poor outcome with hospitalization, longer duration of illness, earlier onset of OC symptoms, and family history of OCD being the predictors of poor outcome. CONCLUSION: The present study of a large sample of patients with juvenile OCD highlights the low rate of comorbid disruptive behavior disorders as reported in the earlier Indian studies and a favorable short-term outcome in approximately 56% of the patients.