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Emotional, Behavioral, and Cognitive Factors That Differentiate Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder and Other Anxiety Disorders in Youth
Anxiety, Stress, & Coping (2012)
  • Marni L. Jacob, University of Georgia
  • Diana M. Morelen, University of Georgia
  • Cynthia Suveg, University of Georgia
  • Amy M. Brown, Kansas City Center for Anxiety Treatment
  • Stephen P. Whiteside, Mayo Clinic
Abstract
The current study examined specific emotional, behavioral, and cognitive variables that may distinguish obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) from generalized anxiety disorder (GAD), social phobia (SoP), and separation anxiety disorder (SAD) in youth. Youth with OCD (n=26) and other anxiety disorders (ADs; n=31), aged 7–12 years (56.1% males), and their parents participated. The study compared the two anxious groups on levels of emotional, behavioral, and cognitive functioning, as well as impairment associated with the disorder. Results indicated that in comparison to youth with GAD, SoP, or SAD, youth with OCD were found to have poorer emotion regulation skills, as well as greater oppositionality, cognitive problems/inattention, and parent impairment associated with the disorder. The findings suggest that there are unique characteristics of OCD that may differentiate this disorder from other ADs in youth. Potential clinical implications and directions for future research are discussed.
Keywords
  • anxiety disorders,
  • categorization,
  • children,
  • emotion regulation,
  • obsessive-compulsive disorder,
  • oppositional
Publication Date
March 1, 2012
DOI
10.1080/10615806.2011.571255
Citation Information
Marni L. Jacob, Diana M. Morelen, Cynthia Suveg, Amy M. Brown, et al.. "Emotional, Behavioral, and Cognitive Factors That Differentiate Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder and Other Anxiety Disorders in Youth" Anxiety, Stress, & Coping Vol. 25 Iss. 2 (2012) p. 229 - 237 ISSN: 1061-5806
Available at: http://works.bepress.com/diana-morelen/16/