Treatment for the management of Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder in Children: A Review

Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD) is characterized by absurd, recurrent and persistent thoughts (obsessions) followed by certain stereotyped actions (compulsions). Obsessive-Compulsive disorder can impair all areas of brain functioning and produce devastating effects on patients and their families. Therefore, there is necessity to aware about the OCD in children and different treatments for its management. The Group A Beta–Hemolytic Streptococcal (GABHS) infections produce antineuronal antibodies that adversely affect basal ganglia cells might play part in etiology of OCD in children. As a result of obsessions, (usually obsessions concerning dirt and contamination, or fear of harming others), many children with OCD develop an avoidant behavior. The newer generation of antidepressant drugs viz. fluvoxamine, fluoxetine, paroxetine, sertraline and citalopram have also been found useful in management of OCD. Neurosurgical treatments have been used for the management of chronic, severely distressing forms of OCD where conventional treatments are ineffective. Psychopharmacological treatments have also been found useful in reduction of repetitive unpleasant behavior. Pharmacological and psychopharmacological treatments combinely have been providing strong effective management of in vivo serotonin impairment as well as reduction of repetitive unpleasant behavior which account for characteristics of OCD.