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Somatic Symptoms in Children and Adolescents with Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder: Associations with Clinical Characteristics and Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy Response

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  14 May 2008

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
Eric A. Storch*
Affiliation:
University of Florida, Gainesville, USA
Lisa J. Merlo
Affiliation:
University of Florida, Gainesville, USA
Mary L. Keeley
Affiliation:
University of Florida, Gainesville, USA
Kristen Grabill
Affiliation:
University of Florida, Gainesville, USA
Vanessa A. Milsom
Affiliation:
University of Florida, Gainesville, USA
Gary R. Geffken
Affiliation:
University of Florida, Gainesville, USA
Emily Ricketts
Affiliation:
University of Florida, Gainesville, USA
Tanya K. Murphy
Affiliation:
University of Florida, Gainesville, USA
Wayne K. Goodman
Affiliation:
University of Florida, Gainesville, USA
*
Reprint requests to Eric A. Storch, Department of Psychiatry, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32610, USA. E-mail: estorch@psychiatry.ufl.edu
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Abstract

Despite 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.

Keywords

Obsessive-compulsive disordersomatic symptomschildrentreatmentassessment
Type
Research Article
Information
Behavioural and Cognitive Psychotherapy , Volume 36 , Issue 3 , May 2008 , pp. 283 - 297
Copyright
Copyright © British Association for Behavioural and Cognitive Psychotherapies 2008

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