Study may help doctors more effectively treat children with OCD

By Staff Writer

New research is showing doctors how to better predict how a child with obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD) may respond to treatment. United Press International reports that researchers from the Bradley Hasbro Children's Research Center in Providence, Rhode Island say OCD is an anxiety disorder characterized by recurrent, unwanted thoughts or obsessions, in addition to repetitive behaviors or compulsions.

"Based on our findings, cognitive behavioral therapy with or without a concomitant medication is the treatment of choice for children and teens with OCD who do not have a parent or sibling who is also affected," wrote study lead author Abbe Garcia, the news source reports.

The researchers found that children with less severe OCD symptoms, fewer co-existing behavior problems and less impairment as a result of their condition showed greater improvement across all of the treatments.

Additionally, the study found that children who were better able to recognize their symptoms as irrational fared better, regardless of what kind of treatment.

According to the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, as many as one in 200 children and adolescents struggle with OCD.