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Obsessive-compulsive disorder in children and adolescents. A 6-22-year follow-up study. Clinical descriptions of the course and continuity of obsessive-compulsive symptomatology

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Abstract

Forty-seven individuals (28 male and 19 female) referred for treatment of obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) in childhood were followed-up 15 years later (range 6–22 years) in respect of psychiatric and personality disorders. In early adulthood, the patients could be sub-divided into 4 groups of about equal size. One group had no later OCD, another had OCD on a sub-clinical level, a third group had an episodic course of OCD, and a final group had a chronic and often very disabling OCD. Outcome was similar in males and females, except that more girls had an episodic course. Eating disorder was diagnosed in 4 (21%) of the females, and Asperger syndrome in 2 (7%) of the males, at follow-up.

Résumé

47 individus (28 garcons et 19 filles) adressés pour traitement pour des troubles obsessifs-compulsifs (OCD) dans l'efance ont été suivis 15 ans plus tard (Moyenne 6 à 22 ans) dans la perspective des troubles psychiatriques et de la personnalité. Au d'but de leur état d'adulte, les patients pouvaient être subdivisés en 4 groupes de taille à peu près égale. Un groupe návait plus d'OCD, l'autre avait un niveau sub-clinique d'OCD, un troisième groupe avait des épisodes intercurrents d'OCD, et un groupe final avait une forme chronique et souvent très handicapante d'OCD. Le devenir était similaire chez les filles et les garcons, sauf que plus de filles avaient des épisodes intercurrents. Les troubles alimentaires furent diagnostiqués chez 4 filles et le syndrome d'Asperger chez 2 garcons.

Zusammenfassung

47 Individuen (28 männlich, 19 weiblich), die zur Behandlung einer Zwangsstörung im Kindesalter überwiesen worden waren, wurden 15 Jahre später (Spannbreite 6 bis 22 Jahre) nachuntersucht im Hinblick auf psychiatrische Störungen und Persönlichkeitsstörungen. Im frühen Erwachse-nenalter konnten die Patienten in etwa 4 gleich große Gruppen unterteilt werden. Hiervon hatte eine Gruppe im Verlauf keine Zwangsstörung mehr. Die zweite Gruppe zeigte Zwangsphänomene im subklinischen Bereich. Die dritte Gruppe wies eine episodisch verlaufende Zwangsstörung auf. Die Individuen der letzten Gruppe litten an einer chronischen, oft stark beeinträchtigenden Zwangsstörung. Der Ausgang war zwischen beiden Geschlechtern ähnlich, mit Ausnahme des häufigeren Vorkommens eines episodischen Verlaufs bei Mädchen. Eßstörungen wurden bei vier Frauen, ein Asperger-Syndrom bei zwei Männern zum Zeitpunkt der Nachuntersuchung diagnostiziert.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Children's Psychiatric Hospital, Harald Selmersvej 66, DK-8240, Risskov, Denmark

    Hove per Thomsen

  2. Institute of Psychiatric Demography, DK-8240, Risskov, Denmark

    Hove per Thomsen

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per Thomsen, H. Obsessive-compulsive disorder in children and adolescents. A 6-22-year follow-up study. Clinical descriptions of the course and continuity of obsessive-compulsive symptomatology. European Child & Adolescent Psychiatry 3, 82–96 (1994). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01977670

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