Current developments in the treatment of obsessive-compulsive disorders inchildren and adolescents

For the treatment of obsessive-compulsive disorders during childhood and ad olescence, multidimensional therapeutical approaches have proven useful in clinical practice. First controlled studies have demonstrated the efficacy of both psychotherapeutical and pharmacological strategies. Exposure and re sponse prevention are considered the most efficient psychotherapeutical met hods. On the basis of the available data,the question of the pharmacologica l dose can not be answered definitely. For Clomipramin, the dose most proba bly is between 75 mg and 150 mg, where as for Fluoxetine and Fluvoxamine 20 mg-60 mg and 100mg-250 mg respectively. However, it has to be kept in mind that sometimes improvement of symptoms is not seen after 8-10 weeks of trea tment. Basically it can be slated that todate there is an urgent need for t herapeutical studies of obsessive-compulsive disorders in the childhood and adolescence. Most relevant would be studies evaluating pharmacological tre atment versus a placebo control groups and carefully designed controlled ps ychotherapeutical treatment studies as well studies comparing pharmacologic al and psychotherapeutical approaches.