Drug approved for OCD in children
4 June 2001
For the first time in Australia, a medication has received specific approval for the treatment of obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD) in children and adolescents.
Luvox (fluvoxamine maleate), a selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI), has been available in Australia for more than 4 years as a treatment for adults in depression and OCD. It has now been approved for the treatment of OCD in children and adolescents aged between 8 and 17 years. Luvox has been available for OCD in children in the United States since 1997.
Dr Peter Birdsey, a general practitioner from South Australia with a specialty in anxiety disorders said: ‘OCD is a severe psychiatric disorder that is characterised by obsessions and compulsions. Obsessions are unwanted ideas and impulses that produce considerable anxiety and discomfort. It is a disorder that affects 1-2 per cent of the population.
‘Children and adolescents who experience OCD are paralysed as a result of their disorder, leaving them unable to perform ordinary tasks, such as going to school, making friends and interacting with family members,’ he added.
While the results of the drug in children with anxiety symptoms are encouraging, childhood and adolescent psychiatrist Dr Chris Wever noted: ‘We are well aware of some people’s reluctance to offer medication to a child. However, when you see first-hand the distress that a child with OCD is experiencing, it seems unreasonable not to offer them the range of therapies we have available.
‘That said, we still believe that the most effective and responsible treatment of anxiety disorders, including OCD for children and adolescents, involves a combination of behaviour therapy, family counselling and medication,’ he added.
Only one in 5 people suffering from OCD gets help, so the disorder remains a hidden problem that impacts people now and potentially in the future.
‘The overall goal is to ensure that children and adolescents suffering from OCD can benefit from correct diagnosis and appropriate treatment so they can lead more confident lives now and minimise the risk of developing additional health complications in the future,’ said Dr Birdsey.
Last Reviewed: 04 June 2001
