Obsessive Compulsive Disorder in Children

Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD) is a type of anxiety disorder that causes excessive worry. The excessive worry can lead to repeated behaviors that are known as rituals as a means of coping with the worry. It is normal for kids to have fears and worries. OCD children are unable to stop worrying, no matter how much they want to.

The troublesome thoughts dominate the child's mind and he develops rituals or compulsions to ward off the bad thoughts or scary feelings. Sometimes the child feels compelled to do these things to insure their safety, to make sure they are clean or to ward off a dreaded thing. They are often unable to articulate why they are repeating these behaviors. Their explanations may be something as simple as "just because."

For the child, OCD is like an overactive alarm system. When something triggers their thoughts, their anxiety rises and their worry increases. The only way they can rid themselves of the thoughts and feelings is to engage in their ritual behavior. Like other ritual behaviors or like some addictions, engaging in the behavior does provide some level of temporary relief. As time passes, the rituals worsen the anxiety and cause the obsessions to continue.

More than 1% of all children in the U.S have OCD that either involves a pattern of thinking and behavior that results in ritualized behavior for 1 or more hours per day, causes distress for the child or is intense enough to interfere with their daily activities. Most kids develop symptoms of OCD between the ages of 7 and 12.

The thing parents, families, caregivers and educators need to recognize is that the child cannot control obsessive compulsive disorder simply by trying harder. Like asthma or diabetes, the child has no control over the disorder. Neither the child nor the parents have caused the disorder to occur.

Some common obsessions include:

Intrusive sounds or words

Fear of dirt, germs or contamination

A need for order or precision

Lucky or unlucky numbers

Fear of illness or harm coming to themselves or loved ones

Some common compulsions or rituals are:

Rituals related to hygiene such as hand washing, showering or teeth brushing

Checking rituals such as seeing if a door is locked repeatedly or an appliance is turned off.

Touching rituals

Putting things in a specific order or arrangement

Counting rituals

Hoarding or collecting things

A doctor can diagnose OCD in your child by talking with the child about his behaviors and thoughts. The doctor will also take a family history to determine if OCD or other anxiety related disorders exist within the family. Treatment includes behavior modification therapy and medication. Your doctor can explain more about treatment.

Sources:
Personal Experience
KidsHealth.org- OCD
AACAP.org