Methylphenidate in the treatment of an adolescent female with obsessive-compulsive disorder and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder: a case report.
OBJECTIVE
We describe a case whereby a 15-year-old female with treatment-resistant obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) was treated with methylphenidate for co-morbid attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). The ADHD-OCD co-morbidity has often been overlooked clinically due to conflicting opinions about their underlying neurobiology and treatment options.


CONCLUSIONS
In this adolescent with co-morbid ADHD and OCD, we observed that the adjunctive use of methylphenidate resulted in enhanced treatment response to both psychological and pharmacological interventions for OCD. This case highlights the need to identify and treat co-morbid ADHD in OCD cases where progress has stalled.
Consultant Psychiatrist, Professorial Unit, The Melbourne Clinic, Richmond, VIC, and; Honorary Senior Lecturer, Department of Psychiatry, University of Melbourne, Melbourne, VIC, Australia.
Joel
J
King
Clinical Psychologist, Professorial Unit, The Melbourne Clinic, Richmond, VIC, and; Senior Research Assistant, Department of Psychiatry, University of Melbourne, Melbourne, VIC, Australia.
Nathan
N
Dowling
Consultant Psychiatrist, Royal Melbourne Hospital, Melbourne, VIC, Australia.
Fiona
F
Leow
D000293:Adolescent; D001289:Attention Deficit Disorder with Hyperactivity / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000523:psychology; D000697:Central Nervous System Stimulants / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D015897:Comorbidity; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008774:Methylphenidate / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D009771:Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder / Q000188:drug therapy*; D011569:Psychiatric Status Rating Scales; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D016896:Treatment Outcome
D000697:Central Nervous System Stimulants; D008774:Methylphenidate
attention deficit hyperactivity disorder; obsessive-compulsive disorder; psychostimulants; treatment resistance