Long-term course of obsessive-compulsive disorder treated in adolescence.
OBJECTIVE
To investigate the long-term course of obsessive-compulsive disorder treated in adolescence.


METHODS
Fifteen young adults treated for the disorder in adolescence, mainly through not only by behavior therapy and family therapy, were followed up between 9 and 14 years later.


RESULTS
Data were collected on 14 of the cases (93%, N = 15) from various sources including interview in person in 6 cases. Of the 14 cases, 6 were found to satisfy DSM-III-R criteria for obsessive-compulsive disorder at long-term follow-up, while 8 were not. These recovered participants were not currently taking medication, and long-lasting recovery was associated with good social adjustment. Chronic course was not attributable to lack of subsequent treatment.


CONCLUSIONS
The recovery rate of 57% (N = 14) is similar to those found in other recent studies of outcome following vigorous treatment in adolescence. The findings are over the longest follow-up period so far reported for obsessive-compulsive disorder treated in adolescence. Positive response to treatment in adolescence can be followed by relapse after longer periods than have usually been studied.
Department of Psychology, Institute of Psychiatry, De Crespigny Park, London, U.K.
D
D
Bolton
M
M
Luckie
D
D
Steinberg
D000275:Adjustment Disorders / Q000523:psychology; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001521:Behavior Therapy; D002648:Child; D005196:Family Therapy; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009771:Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000628:therapy*; D011569:Psychiatric Status Rating Scales; D012917:Social Adjustment; D016896:Treatment Outcome