Normative and pathological obsessive-compulsive behavior and ideation in childhood: a question of timing

This study was designed to test whether obsessive-compulsive behavior declines over development. A cross-sectional design was used on a large community sample of children. Children in grades four, six, and eight (N = 1083), 8 to 14 years of age, were administered the Maudsley Obsessive Compulsive Inventory (MOCI) and the Spielberger State Trait Anxiety Scales. Whereas the mean MOCI score was significantly lower in the eighth grade than in the sixth and fourth, there was an elevation of children with very high MOCI scores in the eighth grade. Obsessive ideas and compulsive behaviors that were common for fourth-grade children were present in only a minority of children in the eighth grade, and were associated with high levels of anxiety. No gender differences were observed for overall obsessive-compulsive behavior, but checking behavior was higher in boys, and cleaning behavior in girls. State anxiety was higher in girls than in boys, and was also higher in older than in younger children.