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Signal Attenuation as a Rat Model of Obsessive Compulsive Disorder
Published on: January 9, 2015
Sleep-related problems in pediatric obsessive-compulsive disorder.
Eric A Storch1, Tanya K Murphy, Caleb W Lack
1Department of Psychiatry, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32610, USA. estorch@psychiatry.ufl.edu
Journal of Anxiety Disorders
|October 24, 2007
Summary
Sleep-related problems (SRPs) are common in youth with obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), affecting over 90%. These issues correlate with OCD severity and anxiety, highlighting the need for targeted assessment and intervention.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Psychiatry
- Child and Adolescent Psychology
- Sleep Medicine
Background:
- Sleep-related problems (SRPs) are recognized in pediatric psychiatric conditions, but understudied in youth with obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD).
- Understanding SRPs in pediatric OCD is crucial for comprehensive patient care.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the frequency and characteristics of SRPs in children and adolescents diagnosed with OCD.
- To examine the relationship between SRPs and factors such as age, gender, OCD severity, comorbid symptoms, and functional impairment.
- To assess the impact of cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) on SRPs in this population.
Main Methods:
- Sixty-six youth with OCD completed OCD, depression, and anxiety assessments.
- Parental reports on child behavior and OCD impact were collected.
- A subset of 41 participants underwent a trial of cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT).
- The frequency of eight specific SRPs was analyzed against demographic, clinical, and functional variables.
Main Results:
- A high prevalence of SRPs was observed, with 92% of youth experiencing at least one SRP and 27.3% reporting five or more.
- Total SRPs showed positive associations with OCD symptom severity, child-rated anxiety, and parent-reported internalizing problems.
- Cognitive-behavioral therapy led to significant reductions in total and specific SRPs.
Conclusions:
- Sleep-related problems are highly prevalent in pediatric obsessive-compulsive disorder.
- SRPs in youth with OCD are linked to greater symptom severity and internalizing difficulties.
- Addressing SRPs should be an integral part of assessment and treatment strategies for pediatric OCD.
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