Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) is an anxiety disorder
which can begin as young as the preschool years. It is characterized by
obsessions (involuntary thoughts, images or impulses that run through the
child's mind over and over) and compulsions (repetitive acts the child performs
over and over, trying to make the obsessions go away.
There is no single, proven cause for obsessive-compulsive disorder, which
affects approximately 1 million children in the United States. However, research
shows that it is a brain disorder, tends to run in families, and may develop or
worsen after a strep infection.
Common obsessions in children an adolescents are
• fears of contamination, intruders, or serious illness
• the need for exactness
• excessive doubt
Common compulsions include
• repetitive rituals such as cleaning or washing
• counting, arranging and organizing
• checking, or questioning
Obsessions usually change over time. Children over age 8 may feel embarrassed or
worried by their obsessions and try to hide or deny them. Others find their
rituals so time consuming they have little time for schoolwork, friendships, or
other activities.
Standard treatment includes medication therapy, cognitive and behavioral
therapy, or some combination of these. Because Obsessive compulsive disorder is
a chronic condition, a child may need to take medication indefinitely. Many
symptoms can be reduced to a manageable level with medication, and others can be
effectively controlled with cognitive behavioral therapy.