Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD)

Like many mental disorders, there is no single cause of OCD. Children who develop OCD often have family members with OCD or anxiety disorders, putting them at some risk biologically. Environmental stressors and personality characteristics can also contribute. 

Every person’s OCD looks different. However, people with OCD will experience both obsessions and compulsions. There are some obsessions and compulsions that are common or shared between people with OCD (see above for examples), though OCD can “latch onto” anything that may really scare or disgust a person. 

Other signs may include:

• Involvement of family members in rituals
• Asking the same questions over and over again
• Sensory sensitivity
• Avoidance of specific situations

OCD is diagnosed through meeting with a mental health provider (for example, a psychiatrist, psychologist, social worker, or other therapist) and answering questions about symptoms, behaviors, and the impact those have on someone’s life.

It is often helpful for mental health providers to use written questionnaires to help with diagnosis. For example, the Children’s Yale-Brown Obsessive-Compulsive Scale (CY-BOCS) is a common tool used to help understand symptoms and severity in OCD. 

There isn't a cure for OCD, but treatments can help children and families cope better with intrusive thoughts and behaviors. OCD is usually treated with a combination of cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) and medication. For milder cases, CBT alone may be enough. Research shows that medication alone typically isn't enough to fully improve OCD in children, but it can be very helpful when combined with CBT.

Medications

Common medications for OCD include selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) like Prozac or Zoloft, which are also used to treat depression and anxiety. Higher doses of these medications are often needed for OCD. Sometimes, an additional medication, such as an atypical antipsychotic like Abilify, may be used alongside an SSRI.

Therapy

The specific type of CBT designed for OCD is called exposure and response prevention (ERP). In ERP, patients learn about the OCD cycle and how compulsions only temporarily relieve distressing thoughts. They are gradually exposed to their fears and taught to resist compulsions, helping their brains learn to cope without them. The goal is to improve symptoms so that daily activities like eating, using the bathroom, showering, going to school, and being around others can be done without significant issues.

OCD can be effectively treated with the methods mentioned, and the consequences are much worse if it is left untreated. Compulsions can take up more and more time and affect school attendance and performance, daily activities, family and social relationships, and even family finances if they require specific objects or cleaners.

Additionally, untreated OCD can cause distress that puts young people at risk for other mental health issues like depression, suicidal thoughts, and self-harm.

Refer to the following recommended resources for more information on OCD. 

• The International OCD Foundation
  • Learn more about OCD, find out how you can attend national meetings and workshops for people and families with lived experience with OCD, and find providers in your area. 

• Books and media for parents, kids, and families
  • What to do When Your Brain Gets Stuck: A Kid’s Guide to Overcoming OCD by Dawn Huebner, Ph.D.
  • Freeing your Child from Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder by Tamar E Chansky, Ph.D.
  • Breaking Free of Child Anxiety and OCD by Eli R. Lebowitz, Ph.D. (Supportive Parenting for Anxious Childhood Emotions workbook)
  • UNSTUCK: An OCD Kids Movie