1. Somatic Symptoms in Children and Adolescents with Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder: Associations with Clinical Characteristics and Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy Response.
- Author
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Eric A. Storch, Lisa J. Merlo, Mary L. Keeley, Kristen Grabill, Vanessa A. Milsom, Gary R. Geffken, Emily Ricketts, Tanya K. Murphy, and Wayne K. Goodman
- Subjects
OBSESSIVE-compulsive disorder in adolescence ,OBSESSIVE-compulsive disorder in children ,BEHAVIOR therapy ,COGNITIVE therapy ,ANXIETY disorders ,AGE ,GENDER - Abstract
AbstractDespite being a core characteristic of anxiety disorders, little data have been reported on somatic symptoms (SSs) in youth with obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD). Eighty-five children and adolescents with OCD were administered the Children's Yale Brown Obsessive-Compulsive Scale and completed the Children's Depression Inventory and Multidimensional Anxiety Scale for Children. Their parents completed the Child Behavior Checklist and Children's Obsessive-Compulsive Impact Scale. A subset of youth (n= 62) completed a trial of cognitive-behavioral therapy. The frequency of specific SSs was examined in relation to age, gender, OCD symptom severity, child-rated symptoms of depression and anxiety, parent-proxy ratings of internalizing and externalizing problems, and functional impairment. Ninety-six percent of youth experienced at least one SS, with 67% reporting five or more SSs. Child-rated SSs were positively associated with parent-ratings of child SSs, child-rated anxiety and depression, and parent ratings of the children's internalizing problems. Parent-rated SSs were positively related to parent-proxy ratings of internalizing problems and OCD-related impairment, clinician-rated OCD symptom severity, and child-rated generalized anxiety. Total and several specific SSs were reduced following cognitive-behavioral treatment. These results suggest that SSs are prevalent in youth with OCD, are associated with symptom severity, are reduced after participation in cognitive-behavioral therapy, and warrant attention during assessment and treatment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
- Published
- 2008
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