According to a Global Data report in June, growth in the OCD market is due to limited awareness among physicians and patients leading to low diagnosis and treatment rates.  Although the OCD therapeutics market has FDA approved drugs such as Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors (SSRIs) and Tricyclic Antidepressants (TCAs), these drugs have moderate efficacy and safety profiles.



The current pipeline for OCD therapeutics consists of eight molecules in various phases of development. The molecules have different mechanisms of action such as Fc-receptor modulator, glutamate receptor antagonist, dopamine type 2 (D2) and serotonin type 2 (5HT2A) receptor antagonists, delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) and orexin receptors antagonist. 

Although the OCD therapeutics pipeline contains three first-in-class molecules, only one of these drugs is industry-sponsored and is in a pre-clinical stage of development. 

The report covers seven annualised key markets (US, France, Germany, Italy, Spain, UK and Japan)  with market revenues data from 2005 to 2009, and forecast for eight years to 2017. Pipeline analysis data providing a split across the different phases, mechanisms of action being developed and emerging trends by seven key markets. Pipeline candidates fall under major therapeutic classes

 Game to help children `
Children  suffering from Obsessive Compulsive Disorder can be helped with their treatment, and the Centre of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry at the University of Zurich  has developed a cognitive-behavioural computer game “Ricky and the Spider”. The game makes it easier for six to twelve-year-olds to understand their condition, its consequences and the treatment.

About 2% of all children suffer from Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD), which consists of obsessive thoughts and acts. Obsessive thoughts are intrusive thoughts such as fear or contamination, injury or violent notions that are perceived to be pointless or distressing. Obsessive acts are ritualised acts that have to be repeated frequently, such as washing one’s hands, asking questions, counting, touching, checking or collecting. Without treatment, OCD often has serious consequences, such as children no longer being able to go to school on account of their symptoms. 
 
Game supports psychotherapists

Nowadays, cognitive behavior therapy, possibly supplemented with medication, is considered to be the most reliable method of treating OCD in children. To help psychotherapists with evidence-based OCD treatment, the Center of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry at the University of Zurich has developed the computer game “Ricky and the Spider”. The game incorporates the key treatment elements of the cognitive-behavioral approach and makes it easier for children to understand the disorder, its consequences and the treatment. 

Getting help
In the game, a spider forces Ricky the Grasshopper and Lisa the Ladybug to do things they do not really want to do.  Ricky is only allowed to hop across the meadow in a particular pattern and Lisa has to count the spots on her wings every evening before she goes to sleep. Fearing the spider, they become entangled deeper and deeper in OCD’s web. In the end, Ricky asks Dr. Owl for help.
    
Distribution of treatment
Veronika Brezinka, who devised the game, hopes that it will help evidence-based treatments to spread beyond the university. “The game is designed to encourage affected children to confront their OCD and help psychotherapists to treat the disorder,” explains Brezinka.

Much like the computer game “Treasure Hunt”, which was developed at the Center of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry three years ago, “Ricky and the Spider” is not a self-help game, but rather a professional tool and should only be used for the purposes of psychotherapeutic treatment.