Obsessive-compulsive symptoms in children with first degree relatives diagnosed with obsessive-compulsive disorder

Objective: A first-degree relative affected by obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) and obsessive-compulsive symptoms (OCS) in childhood is an important risk factor for developing the disorder in adulthood. The relationship between a family history of OCD and the presence of OCS and its correlates in...

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Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Priscila Chacon, Elisa Bernardes, Lívia Faggian, Marcelo Batistuzzo, Tais Moriyama, Eurípedes C. Miguel, Guilherme V. Polanczyk
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Associação Brasileira de Psiquiatria (ABP) 2018-06-01
Series:Brazilian Journal of Psychiatry
Subjects:
Online Access:http://www.scielo.br/scielo.php?script=sci_arttext&pid=S1516-44462018005005103&lng=en&tlng=en
Description
Summary:Objective: A first-degree relative affected by obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) and obsessive-compulsive symptoms (OCS) in childhood is an important risk factor for developing the disorder in adulthood. The relationship between a family history of OCD and the presence of OCS and its correlates in childhood is not well established. Methods: A total of 66 children whose parents or siblings have been diagnosed with OCD were assessed for the presence of OCS and clinical correlates. Results: Three children (4.5%) were reported to have received an OCD diagnosis and another 26 (39.4%) were identified as having OCS. Children with OCS had higher rates of coercive behavior and came from families with lower socioeconomic status. Contamination/cleaning dimension symptoms in the proband were associated with OCS in the assessed children. Conclusion: OCS are frequent among family members of individuals with OCD and are associated with socioeconomic status, coercive behaviors and proband contamination/cleaning symptoms. Future longitudinal studies should test the risk of developing OCD in association with these characteristics.
ISSN:1809-452X