Abstract
Obsessive–compulsive disorder (OCD) is an anxiety disorder which can substantially disable children’s ability to function
at home and school. Clinicians frequently rely on knowledge about symptoms that can be examined early in treatment to determine
future treatment effectiveness. However, OCD in preschoolers has also received little attention in literature. To the best
of our knowledge, there is only one retrospective chart review and one case report in the literature for preschool cases treated
with SSRIs. Therefore, the effect of fluoxetine on preschool children was imprecisely understood. The aim of this case report
was to examine the efficacy and safety of fluoxetine treatment for pediatric OCD. Four preschool children with OCD completed
an 8-week fluoxetine (up to 20 mg) trial. We diagnosed OCD according to Diagnostic and statistical manual of mental disorders,
4th edition, text revision (DSM-IV-TR) criteria and symptoms of OCD were assessed with the Childrens’ Yale-Brown Obsessive
Compulsive Scale (CY-BOCS). Initial and post-treatment symptom severity and improvement were assessed by using the severity
(S) and improvement (I) scales of Clinical Global Impressions Scale (CGI). The CY-BOCS total, obsessions and compulsions subscale
scores and CGI-S scores were significantly improved for all of the cases at the end of the eighth week. In this case report
four preschool children, with severe OCD and resistant to the previous non-psychopharmacologic treatment responded well to
fluoxetine monotherapy. On the other hand, the usage of SSRIs in preschool children remains highly controversial, due to the
lack of data on safety and efficacy.
at home and school. Clinicians frequently rely on knowledge about symptoms that can be examined early in treatment to determine
future treatment effectiveness. However, OCD in preschoolers has also received little attention in literature. To the best
of our knowledge, there is only one retrospective chart review and one case report in the literature for preschool cases treated
with SSRIs. Therefore, the effect of fluoxetine on preschool children was imprecisely understood. The aim of this case report
was to examine the efficacy and safety of fluoxetine treatment for pediatric OCD. Four preschool children with OCD completed
an 8-week fluoxetine (up to 20 mg) trial. We diagnosed OCD according to Diagnostic and statistical manual of mental disorders,
4th edition, text revision (DSM-IV-TR) criteria and symptoms of OCD were assessed with the Childrens’ Yale-Brown Obsessive
Compulsive Scale (CY-BOCS). Initial and post-treatment symptom severity and improvement were assessed by using the severity
(S) and improvement (I) scales of Clinical Global Impressions Scale (CGI). The CY-BOCS total, obsessions and compulsions subscale
scores and CGI-S scores were significantly improved for all of the cases at the end of the eighth week. In this case report
four preschool children, with severe OCD and resistant to the previous non-psychopharmacologic treatment responded well to
fluoxetine monotherapy. On the other hand, the usage of SSRIs in preschool children remains highly controversial, due to the
lack of data on safety and efficacy.
- Content Type Journal Article
- Category Case Report
- Pages 1-4
- DOI 10.1007/s00787-012-0244-2
- Authors
- Eyup Sabri Ercan, Child and Adolescent Psychiatry Department, Ege University Medical School, Izmir, Turkey
- Rasiha Kandulu, Child and Adolescent Psychiatry Department, Ege University Medical School, Izmir, Turkey
- Ulku Akyol Ardic, Child and Adolescent Psychiatry Department, Ege University Medical School, Izmir, Turkey
- Journal European Child & Adolescent Psychiatry
- Online ISSN 1435-165X
- Print ISSN 1018-8827