Personality or pathology?: Obsessive-compulsive symptoms in children and adolescents with anorexia nervosa

Background Numerous studies have addressed obsessive– compulsive features in adults with anorexia nervosa (AN), but few have been conducted with younger patients. The aim of this study was to describe the frequency and severity of obsessive–compulsive disorder (OCD) symptoms and obsessive–compulsive personality (OCP) traits, and to explore the relationships between AN, OCD symptoms and OCP traits in young people. Method Forty‐nine children and adolescents with AN completed measures assessing eating disorder psychopathology, OCD symptoms, OCP traits and perfectionism. Results Fifty‐one per cent displayed clinically significant levels of OCD symptoms and 16% clinically significant OCP traits. Statistically significant positive relationships were found between AN and OCD symptoms and between OCD symptoms and OCP traits. However, no relationships were found between AN and OCP traits. Conclusion This study suggests approximately half of young people with AN may have clinically significant OCD symptoms. Such findings indicate careful assessment for OCD is important in this group. Copyright © 2006 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd and Eating Disorders Association.