Juvenile obsessivecompulsive disorder (OCD) has been
hypothesized to be different from adult-onset OCD suggesting
that juvenile OCD may be a developmental subtype of the
disorder. There is some evidence that juvenile OCD may be
phenotypically different from juvenile-onset adult OCD. This
study examines the phenotypic characteristics of juvenile OCD
(current age ≤ 18 years, n = 39), juvenile-onset adult OCD
(onset ≤ 18 years,cur rent age>18 years, n = 87) and
adult-onset OCD (onset > 18 years, n = 105). Qualified
psychiatrists expert in evaluating OCD subjects conducted
clinical and structured interviews. In the multinomial logistic
regression analysis, controlling for chronological age and
gender, the juvenile OCD was associated with male preponderance,
elev ated rates of certain obsessive-compulsive symptoms, a
ttention-deficit hyperactivity disorder, chronic tics, body
dysmorphic disorder and major depression. In addition,
juvenile-onset adult OCD differed from juvenile OCD by having
later age-atonset and low rate of ADHD. The juvenile-onset adult
OCD was positively associated with social phobia and chronic
tics compared to adult-onset OCD. The juvenile OCD appears to be
different from both juvenile-onset adult OCD and adult-onset OCD
supporting previous observations that juvenile OCD could be a
developmental subtype of the disorder.