Persistent, unwanted erections in an 8-year-old boy

Although unusual somatic preoccupations can be seen in somatoform disorders and obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), unwanted penile erections have been described only in two cases of OCD, both adults. In the present case an 8-year-old boy developed unwanted erections, other obsessive-compulsive symptoms, as well as symptoms of posttraumatic stress disorder, such that he met criteria for both disorders. Treatment consisted of sertraline combined with individual play therapy and family therapy, following which the patient reported modest improvement in symptoms of both disorders.