Obsessive-compulsive disorder in children.

Childhood OCD is a chronic and commonly disabling disorder with a lifetime prevalence of 2% to 3%. Traditionally OCD was a neglected diagnosis, but renewed research interest over the past decade has led to significant advances in the understanding of the disorder in young people. OCD is relatively consistent across the age span in terms of prevalence, phenomenology, etiology, and response to treatment. Comorbidity, especially depression and other anxiety disorders, is common in children with OCD and may exert a negative influence on treatment response and long-term outcome. Nevertheless, CBT and SSRI therapy have been shown to be effective and well-tolerated therapies for children with OCD.