OCD In Children

OCD, or Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder is a medical brain disorder that causes problems in information processing.  Usually people have worries, doubts, or some superstitious beliefs, but a person with OCD becomes obsessed with these thoughts, can’t let them go and they spend excessive amounts of time dealing with their feelings.  They may wash their hands for hours every day, open and close a door an exact number of times before entering or exiting, or many other unusual behaviors. 

People with OCD have both obsessions and compulsions.  The most common obsessions may be fear of germs and dirt, aggressive urges, intrusive thoughts or urges, excessive religious or moral doubt, and a need to have things just so.  Compulsions are repeated washings, checking, touching and counting.  OCD symptoms occur in people of all ages.  It is an especially difficult disorder for children to deal with.  The symptoms that they have take up a lot of their time and energy, and makes routine things like homework or household chores extremely difficult.  Children also tend to worry that they are crazy because they are different or behave differently from their family and friends. 

Children with OCD will have episodes where they will become unwilling or unable to communicate with their parents.  They become extremely angry and are unable to understand why for example, they are not allowed to take a shower for hours and hours.  Relationships and friendships will become very stressed because it is difficult for others to understand what is going on. Even if their OCD is not severe, it will affect friendships because of the great amount of time that is spend being preoccupied with obsessions and compulsions.  Those who don’t understand OCD related behaviors would  have a very negative reaction to what a child that has the disorder is doing.  Even minor displays of OCD could develop into more severe compulsive rituals with certain triggers.  The feelings of stress, or pressure to get things done in a timely or exact manor could cause a severe mood swing.   Professional help should be found if a child suffers from even a mild case of OCD.

Researchers have suggested that there are different types of OCD.  Some may be inherited, and others may be caused by a viral infection that was caused by an exposure to some environmental toxin.  Individuals that have OCD as a child are more likely to have a close blood relative that is affected with the disorder. 

There are many medications available to help in the treatment of OCD.  They are referred to as anti-OCD drugs, and are available only through prescriptions from a doctor.  The anti-OCD drug of choice for children is called Clomipramine.  This drug affects the brain chemicals serotonin, norepinephrine, histamine, acetylcholine and dopamine.  The affects it has on serotonin appear to be the most influential in helping OCD in children.  There are many side effects, including dry mouth, constipation, sleepiness, and irregular heartbeats to name a few.    With so many options available to help treat OCD in children, a parent can try to minimize the presence of side effects.