Obsessive / Compulsive Disorder with violent mood swings

My 4 year old has been diagnosed with obsessive/compulsive disorder.  He also has violent mood swings.  He has tried Risperidone and he is now on Prozac along with the Risperidone.  Tell me, will he be on Prozac for the rest of his life, if he does not side-effect from this med?  If this curbs his anxiety and helps his violent side, will he need this forever?  Does behavior management training eventually take the place of this med, or because my son is extreme, will he need this as well as the training?  He is so young and so maybe I shall need to wait to see the outcome, but have people had to stay on this med. well into adulthood?

[Kevin Kennedy, Ph.D.]

Dear Julie,

To be frank, it's not possible to predict what the future will bring for your son. Try to focus on the present and the immediate future. To be prescribed such medication at such a young age is unusual, and probably indicates a pretty serious level of emotional disturbance. Be sure to talk with the prescribing psychiatrist about your worries, and about his prognosis for your son.