Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD) is an Anxietydisorder that can be most debilitating if left untreated. As the name suggests, OCD is characterized by compulsive actions, practices and thoughts which are experienced to such an extent that they interfere significantly with the wellbeing of the individual. This disorder can have devastating effects on occupational, psychological and social functioning. Teen OCD is devastating for the teenager suffering from the disorder and for his family.
What is Obsessive Compulsive Disorder in Children?
All children have little worries and doubts, but when they can’t stop thinking about them and it starts to affect their daily functioning it becomes a problem. OCD is a type of Child Anxiety which is characterized by obsessions and compulsions. Sometimes ocd children will become worried by certain thoughts or images; these are called obsessions.
OCD children might have disturbing thoughts of harming someone, even though they wouldn’t - and certainly don’t want to. The problem is that children with OCD cannot stop these obsessions no matter how badly they want to, which can be extremely stressful.
Other OCD children might feel compelled to do certain actions over and over again, these are called compulsions or rituals. Even though the child might be aware that what they are doing ‘doesn’t make sense’, they feel extremely anxious if they don’t follow through with the action.
Sometimes these compulsions are thought to prevent a terrible imagined event or outcome. In this case the child feels personally responsible for doing the action so that nothing bad happens.
While some might think this is just a case of superstition, with OCD ritualistic behavior has great psychological impact. In other instances these actions can serve to counter-act a disturbing obsessive thought.
Diagnosing Obsessive Compulsive Disorder in Children
A psychologist or psychiatrist usually does a thorough assessment before diagnosing OCD. In your consultation you will probably be asked to give a detailed description of your child’s troubling behaviors as well as any family history of anxiety or other disorders such as Tourette’s syndrome.
It is advisable to write these down before the consultation, noting the time your child spends on each ritual, so that you can provide a more accurate and detailed description.
Your child will also be asked a series of age-appropriate questions about his/her worries and compulsions and how they might be affecting his/her daily life. Once a diagnosis is made, be sure to ask about all possible treatment options and explore which ones would best suit your child!
While psychiatric drugs are often prescribed as a matter of course, these are not always the only option and research has shown that a combination of treatment modalities is usually the most successful way of treating OCD in children .
What Causes OCD in Children?
There is no definite theory as to what causes OCD in children. The matter is mainly seperated into two schools of thought.
Possible Causes of OCD in Children
Biological Causes:
Genetics - studies suggest that a tendency towards anxiety may be hereditary.
Brain chemistry abnormalities - Brain imaging studies have shown that people with OCD sometimes show different neuro-chemical brain activities than those without OCD.
Psychological Causes:
Some children feel that thinking something bad is morally just as bad as doing it. “If I think of hitting you, it’s morally the same as actually hitting you and so I must be a terrible and violent person.”
Some children feel overly responsible for what happens around them and think certain thoughts are dangerous. “If I think that, it might actually happen and then I will be to blame.”
Help for Obsessive Compulsive Disorder in Children
There are a wide variety of OCD treatments for children and it is advisable to explore all options before deciding on a treatment plan.
More Information on OCD in Children
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