Dimensional approach to obsessive-compulsive disorder in childhood and adolescence.

Based on a review of the charts of child and adolescent psychiatric patients, a group of patients with obsessive-compulsive symptoms and a control group were identified. Obsessive-compulsive symptoms described in the charts were classified according to form using the checklist of Khanna et al. By use of latent trait models, a 6-item obsessive-compulsive rating scale was established revealing a dimensional rather than a categorical distribution of obsessive-compulsive symptoms. The correlation with other clinical features was investigated.