Early-onset cases with

a personal history of tics typically show a male predominance, and prominent OC symptoms in the Symmetry, Forbidden thoughts, and Hoarding dimensions, but fewer OC symptoms in the Cleaning dimension.16-18 They are also much more likely to report, the presence of sensory phenomena.18,34,35 Another marker of the distinctive nature of early-onset OCD is a differing pattern of psychiatric comorbidity. Children with tic-related OCD typically have higher rates of disruptive behavior disorders (attention deficit-hyperactivity disorder [ADHD] and oppositional defiant, disorder), and Inhibitors,research,lifescience,medical trichotillomania, as well as other specific and pervasive developmental disorders.36-39 Thus Inhibitors,research,lifescience,medical far, with the possible exception of Slit and Trk-like 1 (SLITRK1), no specific genes have been associated with tic-related OCD.40 Neuroimaging studies have suggested that caudate volumes in childhood are predictive of future OCD severity in early adulthood as well as future tic severity.41 Although pediatric-onset Inhibitors,research,lifescience,medical OCD tends to respond well to behavioral interventions, particularly when combined with selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs),27,42 it appears that the presence of tics

reduces the beneficial PTC124 in vitro effects of SSRI treatment but not cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) in children and adults.43-45 In addition, individuals with tic-related OCD respond better to neuroleptic augmentation than do OCD patients without a personal history of a tic disorder.46 The course and outcome of tic-related OCD may also be distinctive; characterized by an early peak in OC symptom severity at 12.5 years

and followed by an increased likelihood of remission.27,47 Familial, non-tic-related early-onset OCD Inhibitors,research,lifescience,medical This OCD subtype has been less fully characterized. First-degree family members are known to be at high risk for developing OCD and subclinical OCD, with approximately Inhibitors,research,lifescience,medical 25% being affected.19 Many of these children are likely to be afflicted with obsessional concerns about the safety of close family members as well as contamination and compulsive washing. Higher than expected rates of anxiety and affective disorders are seen in early-onset cases and their first-degree family members. Generalized anxiety disorder (GAD), panic disorder, agoraphobia, separation anxiety disorder (SAD) and recurrent, major depression are frequently encountered, especially if a first-degree relative was Mephenoxalone diagnosed with OCD.48,49 It also appears that some portion of these early-onset cases will remit before adulthood.50-53 A number of small neuroimaging studies have been conducted in pediatric-onset OCD.54 To a large extent, their findings are consistent with the prevailing frontal-striatalthalamo-cortical model of the neural substrates of OCD. These studies have also provided evidence to support, the role of glutamate in the pathology of OCD.