Obsessive compulsive disorder in childhood

Obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD) involves obsessions and compulsions tha t cause impairment and distress, and which interfere with children's develo pmental adaptation and daily functioning. Furthermore, OCD often disrupts p eer and family relationships and school performance and may compromise phys ical health. Once considered rare, recent epidemiologic studies report prev alence rates ranging from 1 % in prepubertal children to 4% in adolescents. In addition, children with OCD are at high risk for comorbid psychopatholo gy, Recent theoretic formulations for OCD encourage the integration of both psychological and biological perspectives, To fully understand the cause a nd course of OCD, integrated assessment of psychological and biological vul nerability as well as prospective longitudinal studies are needed. Curr Opi n Pediatr 2000, 12:325-330 (C) 2000 Lippincott Williams & Wilkins, Inc.