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Cervin M, Højgaard DRMA, Jensen S, Torp NC, Skarphedinsson G, Nissen JB, Melin K, Borrelli DF, Hybel KA, Thomsen PH, Ivarsson T, Weidle B. A General Factor of Psychopathology Predicts Treatment and Long-Term Outcomes in Children and Adolescents With Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder. J Am Acad Child Adolesc Psychiatry 2024:S0890-8567(24)00322-8. [PMID: 38960031 DOI: 10.1016/j.jaac.2024.06.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/01/2023] [Revised: 04/20/2024] [Accepted: 06/24/2024] [Indexed: 07/05/2024]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE Children and adolescents with obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) are at risk for long-term adversity, but factors influencing long-term outcomes are unclear. A general factor of psychopathology, often referred to as the p factor, captures variance shared by all mental disorders and has predicted long-term outcomes in youth with anxiety and depressive disorders. The p factor has never been examined in relation to outcomes in pediatric OCD. Here, we examine whether the p factor predicts 4 important outcomes over both short and long durations in youth with OCD. METHOD We used data from the Nordic Long-term OCD Treatment Study (NordLOTS), in which youth with OCD (N = 248, mean age = 12.83 years [SD = 2.72], 51.6% girls) received exposure-based cognitive-behavioral therapy. The p factor was estimated using parent-reported Child Behavior Checklist data at baseline and was examined in relation to clinician-rated OCD severity, clinician-rated psychosocial functioning, self-reported depressive symptoms, and self- and parent-reported quality of life directly after treatment and 1, 2, and 3 years after treatment. RESULTS The p factor was associated with acute treatment outcomes for OCD severity and psychosocial functioning, but not for depressive symptoms and quality of life. For the long-term outcomes, the p factor was significantly associated with all outcomes except OCD severity. The p factor outperformed traditional psychiatric comorbidity as a predictor of long-term outcomes. CONCLUSION Youth with OCD who experience symptoms across multiple psychiatric domains have poorer long-term outcomes. Compared to traditional classification of psychiatric diagnoses, assessing psychopathology using a dimensional p factor approach may be advantageous for informing prognosis in pediatric OCD.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | - Nor Christian Torp
- Vestre Viken Hospital, Drammen, Norway; Akershus University Hospital, Oslo, Norway
| | | | | | - Karin Melin
- University of Gothenburg, Gothenburg, Sweden
| | | | | | | | | | - Bernhard Weidle
- Norwegian University of Science and Technology, Trondheim, Norway; St. Olav's University Hospital, Trondheim, Norway
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Ivarsson T, Jensen S, Højgaard DRMA, Hybel KA, Torp NC, Melin K, Nissen JB, Weidle B, Thomsen PH, Dahl K, Skarphedinsson G. Remission and Relapse Across Three Years in Pediatric Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder Following Evidence-Based Treatments. J Am Acad Child Adolesc Psychiatry 2024; 63:519-527. [PMID: 38070870 DOI: 10.1016/j.jaac.2023.09.548] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/10/2022] [Revised: 09/11/2023] [Accepted: 11/30/2023] [Indexed: 12/20/2023]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE To examine relapse rates following remission in a 3-year follow-up study in pediatric patients with obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) treated with cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) in a first step, and either continued CBT or sertraline (randomized selection) in a second step. METHOD Participants (N = 269) fulfilled DSM-IV OCD criteria with a mean severity on the Children's Yale-Brown Obsessive Compulsive Scale (CY-BOCS) of 24.6 (SD = 5.1) and were included in analyses according to intent-to-treat principles. CBT used manualized exposure and response prevention (ERP) during both steps 1 and 2, and step 2 sertraline medication used flexible dosing. The follow-up schedules were timed to 6, 12, 24, and 36 months following step 1 CBT. Remission was defined as a CY-BOCS score ≤10 and relapse as an elevated CY-BOCS score ≥16 in those who had remitted. RESULTS A good third of our patients were in stable and full remission at all examinations (n = 98, 36.4%). Further, some in remission following treatment (n = 36, 13.4%) had mild OCD at some examinations. Relapses during follow-up were not uncommon (n = 28, 10.4%), but in many patients these improved again (n = 10, 3.7%) and were in remission at the final 3-year follow-up. Furthermore, a considerable proportion (n = 50, 18.6%) of the patients were initial non-remitters to the treatment but achieved remission at some point during the follow-up. In addition, 11.5% (n = 31) had persistent OCD but reached remission by the last follow-up. Finally, a smaller segment of our sample (9.7%, n = 26), did not attain remission at any point during the study. CONCLUSION Our outcome paints a more promising picture of pediatric OCD long-term outcome than previous studies have done. However, both relapse rates and the presence of initial non-remitters and persistent OCD show that treatments need improvement, particularly for those who respond slowly, partially, or not at all. The lack of a general psychiatric interview at follow-up is a marked limitation. CLINICAL TRIAL REGISTRATION INFORMATION Nordic Long-term Obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD) Treatment Study; https://www.isrctn.com; ISRCTN66385119.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tord Ivarsson
- Institute of Neuroscience and Physiology, University of Gothenburg, Gothenburg, Sweden.
| | | | | | | | - Nor Christian Torp
- Division of Mental Health Services, Akershus University Hospital, Norway; Division of Mental Health and Addiction, Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Vestre Viken Hospital, Drammen, Norway
| | - Karin Melin
- Institute of Health and Care Sciences, Sahlgrenska Academy, University of Gothenburg, Gothenburg, Sweden
| | | | - Bernhard Weidle
- Regional Centre for Child and Youth Mental Health and Child Welfare, Norwegian University of Science and Technology, Trondheim, Norway, and St. Olav's University Hospital, Trondheim, Norway
| | | | - Kitty Dahl
- Centre for Child and Adolescent Mental Health, Eastern and Southern Norway, Oslo
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Saman Y, Pascual-Vera B, Corberán M, Arnáez S, Roncero M, García-Soriano G. A mobile app to challenge obsessional beliefs in adolescents: a protocol of a two-armed, parallel randomized controlled trial. BMC Psychiatry 2024; 24:265. [PMID: 38594680 PMCID: PMC11003130 DOI: 10.1186/s12888-024-05735-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/27/2024] [Accepted: 04/03/2024] [Indexed: 04/11/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Adolescence is a crucial stage for the development of OCD symptoms that, in most cases, persist into adulthood. This requires designing preventive strategies tailored to this population. Therefore, we aim to describe the study protocol that will be used to examine the effectiveness of a mobile health application to challenge obsessional beliefs in adolescents. METHODS A two-armed randomized controlled trial will be conducted on an adolescent sample from the general population. The experimental group will use the intervention module (GGOC-AD) of a mobile app on the GGtude platform for 14 days whereas the control group will use a non-active module (GGN-AD) of said app. Primary outcome measures will be obsessional beliefs and obsessive-compulsive symptoms, and secondary measures will be self-esteem and emotional symptoms. Three assessment points will be conducted at baseline, post-intervention, and one-month follow-up. A linear multiple regression model with an intention to treat approach will be used. The expected total sample size will be 55 participants. DISCUSSION We expect that the intervention group will show a reduction in obsessional beliefs and OCD-symptoms at post and follow-up in comparison with the control group. Additionally, we expect that the app will improve participants' self-esteem. This study could provide an accessible mobile health tool to prevent OCD-related symptoms in adolescents. TRIAL REGISTRATION ClinicalTrials.gov identifier: NCT06033391 . Registered September 4, 2023.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yuliya Saman
- Departamento de Personalidad, Evaluación y Tratamientos Psicológicos, Universitat de València, Avda. Blasco Ibáñez, 21, Valencia, 46010, Spain
| | - Belén Pascual-Vera
- Departamento de Personalidad, Evaluación y Tratamientos Psicológicos, Universidad Nacional de Educación a Distancia, C/ Bravo Murillo, 38, Madrid, 28015, Spain
| | - Marta Corberán
- Departamento de Personalidad, Evaluación y Tratamientos Psicológicos, Universitat de València, Avda. Blasco Ibáñez, 21, Valencia, 46010, Spain
| | - Sandra Arnáez
- Departamento de Personalidad, Evaluación y Tratamientos Psicológicos, Universitat de València, Avda. Blasco Ibáñez, 21, Valencia, 46010, Spain
| | - María Roncero
- Departamento de Personalidad, Evaluación y Tratamientos Psicológicos, Universitat de València, Avda. Blasco Ibáñez, 21, Valencia, 46010, Spain
| | - Gemma García-Soriano
- Departamento de Personalidad, Evaluación y Tratamientos Psicológicos, Universitat de València, Avda. Blasco Ibáñez, 21, Valencia, 46010, Spain.
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Abstract
Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) is characterized by time-consuming, distressing, or impairing obsessions and compulsions. Obsessions are recurrent, persistent, and intrusive thoughts, urges, or images. Compulsions are repetitive and often ritualized behaviors or mental acts performed to manage obsession-related distress or prevent harm. OCD affects 1% to 3% of the population, typically begins during adolescence or early adulthood, and can have a chronic or deteriorating course in the absence of effective treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Matti Cervin
- Department of Clinical Sciences, Lund, Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Faculty of Medicine, Lund University, Sofiavägen 2D, Lund SE-22241, Sweden.
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Early Identification and Intervention in Pediatric Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder. Brain Sci 2023; 13:brainsci13030399. [PMID: 36979207 PMCID: PMC10046131 DOI: 10.3390/brainsci13030399] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/20/2023] [Revised: 02/19/2023] [Accepted: 02/24/2023] [Indexed: 03/03/2023] Open
Abstract
Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) is a psychiatric disorder characterized by persistent thoughts with subsequent repetitive behaviors. Interventions that are effective for adult OCD cannot simply be generalized to pediatric OCD, since OCD in children and adolescents usually has a different clinical presentation, etiology and course from adult OCD. Delayed and inadequate treatment is associated with a worse prognosis, making the need for early identification and intervention in pediatric OCD very urgent. In this paper, we reflected on the current constraints that make early interventions for pediatric OCD unpromoted and reviewed the approaches with potential application for early identification and early intervention in pediatric OCD, categorized by three-level prevention stages corresponding to a clinical staging model. Since the etiology of pediatric OCD is still unclear, primary prevention is most lacking, and early interventions for pediatric OCD are currently focused on the secondary prevention stage, which aims to prevent the conversion of obsessive-compulsive symptoms into full-blown OCD; tertiary prevention mostly focuses on the alleviation of mild to moderate OCD, while interventions for co-morbidities are still in their infancy. We closed by considering the important research questions on this topic.
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Fontenelle LF, Nicolini H, Brakoulias V. Early intervention in obsessive-compulsive disorder: From theory to practice. Compr Psychiatry 2022; 119:152353. [PMID: 36341748 DOI: 10.1016/j.comppsych.2022.152353] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/03/2021] [Revised: 09/03/2022] [Accepted: 10/24/2022] [Indexed: 01/31/2023] Open
Abstract
Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) is frequent and often disabling. Yet, correct diagnosis and appropriate treatment implementation are usually delayed, with undesirable consequences. In this paper we review the rationale for early intervention in OCD and provide recommendations for early intervention services. Two scenarios are discussed, i.e., subclinical (prodromal) obsessive-compulsive symptoms (OCS) and full-blown OCD. Although the typical patient with OCD reports a long history of subclinical OCS, longitudinal studies suggest most individuals with OCS in the community do not convert to full-blown OCD. Thus, research on "at risk" phenotypes for OCD and how they should incorporate different risk factors (e.g., polygenic risk scores) are badly needed. For this specific scenario, preventative treatments that are cheap, well tolerated and highly scalable (e.g., lifestyle interventions) are of major interest. On the other hand, increasing evidence suggests OCD to be a progressive disorder and the severity and duration of illness to be associated with both biological changes and increased clinical complexity, including greater number of physical and psychiatric comorbidities, increased family accommodation and worse treatment response. Therefore, prompt identification and early treatment implementation for full-blown OCD are also critical for ethical, clinical and therapeutic reasons. Based on the existing findings, we argue that, regardless of focusing on subclinical OCS or clinical OCD, early intervention services need to target a childhood age group. In addition to delivering well established treatments to people with full-blown OCD early on their illness, early intervention services also need to provide psychoeducation for patients, families and teachers.
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Affiliation(s)
- Leonardo F Fontenelle
- Obsessive, Compulsive, and Anxiety Spectrum Research Program. Institute of Psychiatry, Federal University of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil; D'Or Institute for Research and Education, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil; Department of Psychiatry, School of Clinical Sciences, Monash University, Clayton, VIC, Australia.
| | - Humberto Nicolini
- Genomics of Psychiatric and Neurodegenerative Diseases Laboratory, National Institute of Genomic Medicine (INMEGEN), Mexico City, Mexico; Clinical Research, Carracci Medical Group, Mexico City, Mexico
| | - Vlasios Brakoulias
- Western Sydney Obsessive-Compulsive and Related Disorders Service, Western Sydney Local Health District Mental Health Service, Sydney, Australia; School of Medicine and Translational Health Research Institute, Western Sydney University, Sydney, Australia
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Jensen S, Mortensen EL, Skarphedinsson G, Højgaard DR, Hybel KA, Nissen JB, Tord Ivarsson, Weidle B, Torp NC, Thomsen PH. Long- term remission status in pediatric obsessive-compulsive disorder: Evaluating the predictive value of symptom severity after treatment. Psychiatry Res 2022; 317:114906. [PMID: 36265194 DOI: 10.1016/j.psychres.2022.114906] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/23/2022] [Revised: 09/30/2022] [Accepted: 10/12/2022] [Indexed: 11/15/2022]
Abstract
It is unknown if long-term remission for pediatric obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) patients is associated with post-treatment OCD symptom severity. The aim of the present study was to evaluate if post-treatment symptom severity cut-offs can discriminate remitters from non-remitters in pediatric OCD patients during three years of follow-up. All participants (N = 269) from the Nordic Long-term OCD Treatment Study (NordLOTS) undergoing stepped-care treatment were included. Patients were rated with the Clinical Global Impression - Severity Scale (CGI-S) one (n = 186), two (n = 167), and three years (n = 166) after first-line cognitive-behavioral therapy. Post-treatment symptom severity scores as well as percentage reductions during treatment evaluated with the Children's Yale-Brown Obsessive-Compulsive Scale (CY-BOCS) were analyzed using receiver operating characteristics according to the CGI-S remission scores (< 2) at follow-up. Post-treatment CY-BOCS severity scores acceptably discriminated remitters from non-remitters at one-year follow-up, but poorly for the two- and three-year follow-up. Severity percentage reduction during treatment did not discriminate remission status acceptably at any follow-up point. Post-treatment OCD symptom severity status seems to have little discriminative value for long-term remission status in pediatric patients. Further research is warranted to detect post-treatment factors of prognostic value.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sanne Jensen
- Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Aarhus University Hospital, Psychiatry, Denmark; Department of Clinical Medicine, Aarhus University, Denmark.
| | - Erik L Mortensen
- Department of Public Health and Center for Healthy Aging, University of Copenhagen, Denmark
| | | | - David Rma Højgaard
- Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Aarhus University Hospital, Psychiatry, Denmark; Department of Clinical Medicine, Aarhus University, Denmark
| | - Katja A Hybel
- Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Aarhus University Hospital, Psychiatry, Denmark; Department of Clinical Medicine, Aarhus University, Denmark
| | - Judith B Nissen
- Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Aarhus University Hospital, Psychiatry, Denmark; Department of Clinical Medicine, Aarhus University, Denmark
| | - Tord Ivarsson
- Regional Centre for Child and Youth Mental Health and Child Welfare Central Norway, Norwegian University of Science and Technology, Trondheim, Norway; Institute of Health and Care Sciences, Sahlgrenska Academy, University of Gothenburg, Gothenburg, Sweden
| | - Bernhard Weidle
- Regional Centre for Child and Youth Mental Health and Child Welfare Central Norway, Norwegian University of Science and Technology, Trondheim, Norway
| | - Nor C Torp
- Division of Mental Health and Addiction, Vestre Viken Hospital, Drammen, Norway; Akershus University Hospital, Oslo, Norway
| | - Per H Thomsen
- Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Aarhus University Hospital, Psychiatry, Denmark; Department of Clinical Medicine, Aarhus University, Denmark
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Irritability, Defiant and Obsessive-Compulsive Problems Development from Childhood to Adolescence. J Youth Adolesc 2021; 51:1089-1105. [PMID: 34727300 PMCID: PMC9090682 DOI: 10.1007/s10964-021-01528-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/29/2021] [Accepted: 09/16/2021] [Indexed: 11/07/2022]
Abstract
Little is known about the coexistence of oppositionality and obsessive-compulsive problems (OCP) in community children and how it affects their development until adolescence to prevent possible dysfunctions. The co-development of oppositional defiant dimensions and OCP is studied in 563 children (49.7% female) from ages 6 to 13 years, assessed yearly with measures answered by parents and teachers. A 4-class model based on Latent Class Growth Analysis for three parallel processes (irritability, defiant, and OCP) was selected, which showed adequate fitting indexes. Class 1 (n = 349, 62.0%) children scored low on all the measures. Class 2 (n = 53, 9.4%) contained children with high OCP and low irritability and defiant. Class 3 (n = 108, 19.2%) clustered children with high irritability and defiant and low OCP. Class 4 (n = 53, 9.4%) clustered comorbid irritability, defiant, and OCP characteristics. The classes showed different clinical characteristics through development. The developmental co-occurrence of irritability and defiant plus obsessive-compulsive behaviors is frequent and adds severity through development regarding comorbidity, peer problems, executive functioning difficulties, and daily functioning. The identification of different classes when combining oppositional problems and OCP may be informative to prevent developmental dysfunctions and to promote good adjustment through development.
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