SHOULD PEDIATRICIANS INVESTIGATE THE SYMPTOMS OF OBSESSIVE-COMPULSIVE DISORDER IN CHILDREN WITH FEEDING DIFFICULTIES?

OBJECTIVE

To review current evidence on the relationship between obsessive-compulsive disorder and feeding difficulties.

METHODS

Review the Science Direct and PubMed databases between 2007 and 2017 in English, Portuguese and Spanish. The search terms, used in association, were "obsessive compulsive disorder" and "picky eating/feeding difficulty". Cohort, case control and cross sectional studies were included that analyzed children, adolescents and/or adults of any sample size from any country in the world. Opinion articles were excluded.

RESULTS

Around 245 articles were selected, and only 4 were included in this review, according to previous criteria. Results from the studies essentially described that there is indeed a difference in "picky" behaviors between subjects with and without obsessive-compulsive disorder. Patients with obsessive-compulsive disorder tend to have exacerbated symptoms of disgust, anxiety and a higher eating behavior inflexibility score.

CONCLUSIONS

Obsessive-compulsive disorder and feeding difficulties patients share common symptoms. The present study alerts health professionals who follow patients with feeding difficulties as to the importance of investigating possible psychiatric comorbidities.