Attached
Background
Obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD) in children
differs from adults in that children do not show ego
dystonicity, rarely have pure obsessions and
commonly have pure compulsions with hidden
obsessions. Comorbid psychiatric diagnoses are seen
in more than 50% of children with OCD.
Aims
To describe the socio-demographic factors, clinical
presentations and psychiatric comorbidities of
children with OCD in a Sri Lanka setting, and to
determine the factors associated with comorbidities.
Methods
A retrospective descriptive study design was used.
Data was collected from clinic records of all patients
diagnosed to have OCD at the child guidance clinic of
Lady Ridgeway Hospital for Children, Colombo during
the 3-year period from 2013-2016.
Results
Fifty two children were included in the study. The mean
age of the children was 9.2 years. Males accounted
for 71.2%. The majority (55.8%) had both obsessions
and compulsions. Multiple obsessions were seen in
15.4% and multiple rituals in 26.9%. The most
common theme was contamination (61.5%). Washing
was the most common ritual (50%). Comorbidities
were present in 55.7%, with attention deficit
hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) (17.3%) being the most
common. Of the participants, 90.4% had impairments
related to OCD. There was a significant association
between the gender and the age of the child (p=0.029)
in the 5-10 year age group, boys were 5 times more
common than girls, while the proportion of boys and
girls were equal in children aged more than 10 years.
Conclusion
Comorbidities are common in childhood OCD, and all
children with OCD should be screened for
comorbidities.
