Descriptive study of a series of patients with Obsessive-compulsive disorder

Introduction: high frequency and intensity of obsessive thinking and compulsive behaviour at a level which interferes with leading normal life are the characteristics of the Obsessive- compulsive disorder.

Objective: the aim of this work is to analyze the main clinical characteristics in a group of patients of a Children and Youth Psychiatric Unit.

Material and methods: descriptive observational study based on the systematic review of the clinical records of 11 patients. The most important factors related to clinical aspects, progression of the illness and treatment where evaluated and compared with the principal related publications.

Results: the most frequent obsessions where fear of death and of illness, while the most frequent compulsions where cleanness and order. Fifty-five percent of the sample was suffering from other metal disorders and the parents of 65% of cases had some psychiatric diagnosis. All patients were treated with sertraline, in association with other psychotropic drugs when the progression of the illness was not adequate.

Conclusions: most of the patients of this series show familiar records of mental disorders, comorbidity with other psychiatric illness and, sometimes require more than one psychotropic drug. Early detection is very important for a positive control and treatment.