Treatment of Pediatric Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder: A Review

Recently, research in pediatric obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) has expanded to include large family genetic studies, elaboration of phenotypic dimensions, description of co-morbid disorders and their moderating effects on treatment response and outcome, research on immune-based neuropsychiatric causes, randomized controlled trials of selective serotonin re-uptake inhibitors (SSRIs), randomized controlled trials of cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), comparative treatment trials; new approaches in behavior therapy, and increased awareness of newer approaches to treatment. The purpose of this article is to review assessment and treatment strategies to include current advances in research.