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Treatment of Symmetry in Childhood Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder

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Clinical Handbook of Obsessive-Compulsive and Related Disorders

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Abstract

Pediatric obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) is a disabling disorder that interferes with the functioning of not only the child but also the entire family unit. Up to five separate dimensions of OCD symptomatology have been identified as distinct symptom clusters. The symmetry dimension of OCD involves magical thinking and compulsive behaviors such as tapping and evening out as well as “just not right” feelings. This dimension reportedly occurs more commonly in younger children than older cohorts. With that in mind, certain factors such as increased family accommodation and developmentally appropriate lack of metacognition, insight, and motivation often complicate the treatment process when treating younger children with OCD, making certain modifications necessary for successful treatment in most cases. The following case study is an example of creative use of behavioral and cognitive-behavioral techniques in combination with a heavy emphasis on parent training and parental involvement to treat symmetry OCD in a 7-year-old child.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Pediatrics, Rothman Center for Neuropsychiatry, University of South Florida, 880 6th St. South Suite 460, 33701, Box 7523, St. Petersburg, FL, USA

    Brittany M. Rudy PhD & Sophia Zavrou PsyD

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  1. Brittany M. Rudy PhD
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  2. Sophia Zavrou PsyD
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Correspondence to Brittany M. Rudy PhD .

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Editors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Pediatrics, Health Policy & Management, Psychiatry & Behavioral Neurosciences, and Psychology, University of South Florida, St. Petersburg, Florida, USA

    Eric A. Storch

  2. Departments of Pediatrics, Psychiatry and Psychology, University of South Florida, Tampa, Florida, USA

    Adam B. Lewin

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Rudy, B., Zavrou, S. (2016). Treatment of Symmetry in Childhood Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder. In: Storch, E., Lewin, A. (eds) Clinical Handbook of Obsessive-Compulsive and Related Disorders. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-17139-5_12

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