TREATMENT OF OBSESSIVE-COMPULSIVE DISORDER IN THE ELDERLY - A REVIEW AND CASE EXAMPLE

Obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD) is a prevalent form of psychopatho logy in the elderly, yet limited evaluation of the disorder in this ag e group has occurred. We review the literature and describe a case of OCD effectively treated in an 80-year-old man. Case study reports sugg est that elderly persons are responsive to selective serotonin uptake inhibitors, although medication selection and dosage may need to be ad justed as a result of the medical conditions sometimes present in the elderly. Elderly persons appear able to benefit from exposure and resp onse prevention, although behavioral intervention has not been frequen tly used. We describe here the first case report where exposure and re sponse prevention procedures were successfully used and' this interven tion was not confounded with psychopharmacologic treatment.