Center for Medical Ethics and Health Policy Staff Publications
Language
English
Publication Date
11-1-2024
Journal
European Child & Adolescent Psychiatry
DOI
10.1007/s00787-024-02431-9
PMID
38634862
PMCID
PMC11486836
PubMedCentral® Posted Date
11-26-2024
PubMedCentral® Full Text Version
Author MSS
Abstract
Given diverse symptom expression and high rates of comorbid conditions, the present study explored underlying commonalities among OCD-affected children and adolescents to better conceptualize disorder presentation and associated features. Data from 830 OCD-affected participants presenting to OCD specialty centers was aggregated. Dependent mixture modeling was used to examine latent clusters based on their age- and gender adjusted symptom severity (as measured by the Children's Yale-Brown Obsessive-Compulsive Scale; CY-BOCS), symptom type (as measured by factor scores calculated from the CY-BOCS symptom checklist), and comorbid diagnoses (as assessed via diagnostic interviews). Fit statistics favored a four-cluster model with groups distinguished primarily by symptom expression and comorbidity type. Fit indices for 3-7 cluster models were only marginally different and characteristics of the clusters remained largely stable between solutions with small clusters of distinct presentations added in more complex models. Rather than identifying a single classification system, the findings support the utility of integrating dimensional, developmental, and transdiagnostic information in the conceptualization of OCD-affected children and adolescents. Identified clusters point to the centrality of contamination concerns to OCD, relationships between broader symptom expression and higher levels of comorbidity, and the potential for complex/neurodevelopmental presentations.
Keywords
Humans, Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder, Female, Male, Adolescent, Child, Comorbidity, Severity of Illness Index, Psychiatric Status Rating Scales, Cluster Analysis, Sex Factors, Age Factors, Obsessive–compulsive disorder, Assessment, Symptomatology, Comorbidity
Published Open-Access
yes
Recommended Citation
Smárason, Orri; Selles, Robert R; Højgaard, Davíð R M A; et al., "Exploring Latent Clusters in Pediatric OCD Based on Symptoms, Severity, Age, Gender, and Comorbidity." (2024). Center for Medical Ethics and Health Policy Staff Publications. 268.
https://digitalcommons.library.tmc.edu/med_ethics/268