Childhood-onset OCD: A Case Report on the Role of Early Intervention in Symptom Management

Childhood-onset obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) is a condition with limited research and multiple diagnostic and therapeutic challenges. We present the case of a 6-year-old girl who exhibited obsessive-compulsive symptoms beginning at the age of 4. Diagnostic formulation was based on Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fifth Edition (DSM-5) criteria, following the exclusion of other differential diagnoses. She was treated using a multimodal approach, which included parent-assisted exposure and response prevention (ERP) therapy in combination with a selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI). This case underscores the marked distress that may be associated with very early-onset OCD and highlights the effectiveness of integrated management through pharmacotherapy, psychotherapy, and active family involvement.