Child & Adolescent Centers

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If you’re not familiar with the effects of OCD in children, you might not notice how a small percentage of kids, approximately 2-3 percent, are affected by this anxiety disorder.

What may appear harmless to most people is absolutely frightening for children with obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD). Many everyday items and activities cause children with OCD to stop in their tracks, filled with anxiety, afraid of what might happen if they touch a doorknob, or fail to tap an object a specific number of times. They may even believe that a family member will be hurt or die if they don’t complete a certain ritual after they’ve thought or done something. Children with OCD feel compelled to do these behaviors and are powerless to control the thoughts and behaviors.

If you’re not familiar with the effects of OCD in children, you might not notice how a small percentage of kids, approximately 2-3 percent, are affected by this anxiety disorder. For children who are affected by obsessive-compulsive disorder, everyday activities like getting ready for school or hanging out with friends can bring about unmanageable ...
... feelings of anxiety or avoidance.

Examples of OCD behaviors

The symptoms of OCD in children can vary greatly from child to child, but commonly develop around a few recurring thoughts or actions. The two parts of OCD are the obsessions (excessively troubling worries and fears) and the compulsions (repeated behaviors or rituals the child feels MUST be done to stave off the bad feelings).

Examples of common obsessions include fears of contamination by germs, of harm coming to the child or their loved ones, or a strong sense that items must be in perfect order or perfectly symmetric. These obsessions vary from child to child. Typical examples of compulsions include excessive hand washing or use of hand sanitizers. Children may seek reassurance, repeatedly questioning others. They may alleviate their anxiety by repeating specific actions, checking and re-checking locks on doors and windows, and arranging items in very specific ways. While some of these and other ritualized behaviors may be perfectly normal, for a child suffering from OCD, the ritual feels absolutely necessary in order to keep performing the ritual again and again for long periods of time, interfering with the most basic of daily activities.

Parents may notice that their child is taking an unusually long amount of time to complete basic self-care activities, like getting dressed, or washing up. Children with OCD might wash their hands after touching anything, not just at mealtimes or bathroom breaks. Parents may notice that their child organizes their place settings or food before beginning to eat. Teachers might inadvertently reinforce the need for perfectionism by complementing a student on their “perfect” paper. As children with OCD advance through school, the standards they set for themselves become increasingly more difficult to attain. The teachers may then notice missing or late assignments because the student was unable to complete it “perfectly.”

Children with OCD also find it difficult to make and maintain friendships with their peers. While they may have friends in the beginning, it may become increasingly difficult for them to have play dates, due to the anxiety of losing control of their surroundings or not having the ability to complete their rituals due to embarrassment or shame. For children with OCD the anxiety of peer relationships goes well beyond the normal concerns of being liked or accepted.

The intrusive thoughts of OCD can be so disruptive for children that they have trouble leaving the house, participating in family events or even getting enough sleep. To put their anxiety to rest, children with OCD follow their instinct to complete a ritual, which puts all other activities aside.

Cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) with exposure and ritual prevention (ERP) can be very effective treatment for children affected by OCD. It’s important to seek a trained treatment team, like the ones at Rogers Memorial Hospital to address the specific symptoms of the child’s OCD in an individualized treatment plan.
Resource: http://rogershospital.org