All kids have worries and doubts. But kids with obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) often can’t stop worrying, no matter how much they want to. And those worries frequently compel them to behave in certain ways over and over again. When this occurs, a diagnosis of Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD) might be appropriate. OCD should be diagnosed by an appropriate mental health professional. At least 1 in 200 children and teens in the United States have OCD.
OCD involves excessive worrying or thinking about something despite efforts to stop thinking about it (obsessions) as well as having rituals, or things that one has to do in order to prevent something bad from happening (compulsions). OCD is similar to a false alarm, it causes a person with it to worry about something that is not harmful or dangerous.
Among kids and teens with OCD, the most common obsessions include:
Fear of dirt or germs
Fear of contamination
A need for symmetry, order, and precision
Religious obsessions
Preoccupation with body wastes
Lucky and unlucky numbers
Sexual or aggressive thoughts
Fear of illness or harm coming to oneself or relatives
Preoccupation with household items
Inrusive sounds or words
These compulsions are the most common among kids and teens:
Grooming rituals, including hand washing, showering, and teeth brushing
Repeating rituals, including going in and out of doorways, needing to move through spaces in a special way, or rereading, erasing, and rewriting
Checking rituals to make sure that an appliance is off or a door is locked, and repeatedly checking homework
Rituals to undo contact with a “contaminated” person or object
Touching rituals
Rituals to prevent harming self or others
Ordering or arranging objects
Counting rituals
Hoarding and collecting things of no apparent value
Cleaning rituals related to the house or other items
OCD in kids is usually diagnosed between the ages of 7 and 12. Since these are the years when kids naturally feel concerned about fitting in with their friends, the discomfort and stress brought on by OCD can make them feel scared, out of control and alone.
OCD can be very impairing, however, there is treatment available that can significantly reduce symptoms and make them manageable. The best line of treatment for OCD involves medication, prescribed by a psychiatrist, and a specialized type of therapy called Cognitive Behavioral Therapy with Exposure and Response Prevention (CBT with ERP). ERP involves gradually exposing a person with OCD to thing that makes him/her anxious while providing him/her with the skills to cope with his/her anxiety but not allowing him/her to engage in his/her rituals Over time, the person begins to experience less anxiety and is able to cope better. Also, people who have completed ERP are able to determine what things are “worth” worrying about versus what his/her OCD deems worth worrying about. Many people who have completed ERP are symptom free following treatment.
Heather Yardley, PhD, is a pediatric psychologist at Nationwide Children's Hospital. She has a special interest in working with youth with type 1 diabetes and their families as well as youth with obsessive compulsive disorder.
All Topics
Browse by Author
About this Blog
Pediatric News You Can Use From America’s Largest Pediatric Hospital and Research Center
700 Children’s® features the most current pediatric health care information and research from our pediatric experts – physicians and specialists who have seen it all. Many of them are parents and bring a special understanding to what our patients and families experience. If you have a child – or care for a child – 700 Children’s was created especially for you.
