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Characterizing Anxious Children with an Obsessive Difficult Temperament

University of Toronto, Canada, hwood{at}oise.utoronto.ca

Katharina Manassis

Hospital for Sick Children and University of Toronto, Canada

Mary Owens

Hospital for Sick Children and University of Toronto, Canada

E. Jane Garland

University of British Columbia, Canada

This exploratory study sought to characterize anxious children displaying an Obsessive Difficult Temperament (ODT), and examined features that may differentiate them from anxiety disordered, non ODT children. Participants comprised 67 children, aged 4 to 7 years, consecutively referred to an anxiety disorders clinic at an urban children's hospital. Retrospective categorization of the participants' temperament profile was undertaken, with 21 children appearing to display ODT. Groups were compared on the bases of child functioning (parent and clinician rated), the presence of comorbid disorders (based on structured interview), and parental stress and symptomatology. Participants with ODT were found to display a specific profile of temperament traits. Compared to non ODT participants, they showed a significantly poorer social functioning, more comorbid externalizing disorders, elevated levels of maternal stress, and increased maternal psychiatric symptoms. To conclude, anxious children expressing ODT present with significant impairments in functioning and require further investigation. Associated parental stress and impaired maternal psychosocial functioning are evident.

Key Words: anxiety disorders • children • difficult temperament • obsessive personality

Clinical Child Psychology and Psychiatry, Vol. 14, No. 1, 85-99 (2009)
DOI: 10.1177/1359104508096768


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