Optimal management of pediatric obsessive-compulsive disorder

The last two decades have seen an increase in evidence supporting behavioral and pharmacologic treatments of pediatric obsessive-compulsive disorder, a debilitating anxiety disorder that affects about 1% of youth. However, dissemination of knowledge about these treatments to pediatric health care providers and families of affected children has been less successful. Following best practice guidelines, specific evidence for cognitive-behavioral therapy with exposure and response prevention and pharmacotherapy with serotonin reuptake inhibitors are presented. A discussion of clinical features and their impact on treatment delivery and empirically based suggestions for overcoming these barriers are also presented. Future directions for enhancing treatment implementation and dissemination are discussed.