Editorial: Neurobiological Substrates of Subclinical Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder in Children

Abstract

"I'm a little bit OCD" is a common refrain on social media, usually referring to a benign tendency toward cleanliness, order, and "keeping one's eye on the prize." In truth, obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) is a debilitating disorder of ritual and doubt that carries a significant burden on functioning for those affected. Even subclinical OCD, which is 2-8 times more common than OCD in children, can engender considerable suffering, including social withdrawal, anxiety, depressed mood, and excess somatic complaints.^1,2 It has been suggested that subclinical OCD symptoms during childhood may be precursors to developing the full disorder in adolescence and adulthood. However, the neurobiological underpinnings of subclinical OCD and their development and correlation to child functioning have not yet been well elucidated.