Is Childhood OCD a Developmental Disorder?

A recent study appearing in the journal Neuroscience and Behavioral Reviews suggests that childhood-onset OCD may be, in part, a development disorder. This study, which summarized the findings of a large number of neuroimaging studies, found that childhood-onset patients exhibited dysfunction of a specific brain circuit that was not apparent among adults who developed OCD later in life. This study is important as it suggests further research and attention is needed to tailor treatments for OCD that starts in childhood.