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Trichotillomania (TTM) is associated with great psychosocial impairment and reduced quality of life and the lifetime prevalence is 1-3 %. The purpose of this review is to give an up-to-date overview of TTM. It describes the genesis and epidemiology of trichotillomania (TTM), including prevalence in terms of age and gender. The knowledge on the aetiology, phenomenology, and comorbidity of TTM is reviewed. The state of treatment options and implications, the effect of these and the clinical and research related perspectives are presented.

The knowledge of obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) and its treatment has advanced in the latest years and is summarised in this review. Child and adolescent OCD is a chronic condition, and if it is left untreated, it often continues into adulthood with debilitating effect on the quality of life. Cognitive-behavioural therapy (CBT) is the recommended first-line treatment for children and adolescents, and continued CBT or selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor treatment can be effectively given to non-responders to initial CBT. There is also emerging evidence supporting the long-term effect of CBT in this group of patients, and new variations of CBT are being investigated.

Obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD) is a frequent condition. First-choice psychopharmacological treatment includes SSRIs where the choice of drug depends on the occurrence of side effects. If remission is obtained, continued treatment is recommended for at minimum of one year. If only a partial or no response is obtained, augmentation treatment with atypical antipsychotics may be attempted. However, only few studies have examined the effect and side effects of augmentation treatment in children and adolescents. The aim was to provide a summary on the current knowledge on psychopharmacological treatment of children and adolescents with OCD.

Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) is a frequent disorder and glutamate seems to be an important transmitter. The effect of glutamate depends on the level as well as the effect mediated through glutamate receptors. The level is altered in brain areas that are involved in OCD. Genes encoding receptors, enzymes involved in the metabolism and transport proteins are located in regions that are related to OCD. Pharmacogenetic studies examining the genetic variations in the glutaminate system are lacking. The aim was to examine the current knowledge on the glutaminate system in the development and maintenance of OCD.

OCD is a frequently encountered disorder which can have a major impact on the development of children and adolescents. The recommended treatment is cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) which can be combined with psychopharmacological treatment. Studies have shown that CBT both as an individual treatment, as treatment in groups or as a family-based treatment is effective. The choice of treatment depends on the age of the patient, family relations, including the involvement of the parents, the severity of the symptoms and the occurrence of comorbidity.