When kids come to us with obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), we know that first-line treatment is cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) or selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs). But then what? What about the kids who don’t respond to CBT or SSRIs? This research update discusses studies measures, treatments and medications for to take to help your younger OCD patients.

...

...

...

In DSM-5, OCD is included in a new “obsessive-compulsive and related disorders” chapter. In DSM-IV, OCD was in the “anxiety disorders” chapter.The new chapter was added to “reflect the increasing evidence of these disorders’ relatedness to one another and distinction from other anxiety disorders, as well as to help clinicians...

While most patients with obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) can derive benefit from psychopharmacologic treatment, cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) that includes exposure and response prevention is recommended without pharmacotherapy when feasible (American Psychiatric Association (APA). Practice guideline for the treatment of patients with obsessive-compulsive disorder. Arlington, VA: 2007. www.psychiatryonline.org).For patients who prefer...

Over the past decade or so, atypical antipsychotic use has exploded, for both FDA approved indications and off-label treatments.

Exposure and response prevention (ERP) is an extremely effective therapy. You can say with conviction that if a patient commits to this therapy, it really has a good chance of reducing suffering.

Cognitive behavior therapy (CBT) is the mainstay of OCD treatment and has been shown to be more effective and more durable than medication, but it can be insufficient.

Sometimes complex motor tics and OCD compulsions can be difficult to differentiate, since both are related to urges to perform some type of activity or movement.