Are you the parent or caregiver of a child who suffers from OCD? If so, it is important to seek Treatment For OCD In Children as soon as possible. If left untreated, OCD usually does not improve by itself or may even get worse and sometimes can lead to symptoms of depression.
About OCD
OCD is an acronym that stands for Obsessive Compulsive Disorder, a psychological disorder classified in the psychiatric DSM manual used by the American Psychiatric Association. It is characterized by the prevalence of intrusive, unwanted, and repetitive thoughts, images, or impulses, known as obsessions. These thoughts, images, or impulses can cause the suffering child a great deal of stress and anxiety, and he or she may come up with specialized rituals, known as compulsions, to reduce the anxiety and fear that the child experiences.
In OCD there are several subtypes of obsessions that the child may experience. These may include:
Contamination obsessions where the child is obsessed with being clean and free from things perceived as dirty;
Ordering obsessions in which the child must have his or her external environment in an order perceived to be proper, perfect, or “just right;”
Religious obsessions in which the child worries obsessively about religious messages or morals;
Harm obsessions in which the child worries about hurting someone or hurting themselves (aggressive harm), and/or harm coming to themselves or someone they love (non-aggressive harm);
Sexual obsessions in which the child has unwanted sexual thoughts.
OCD compulsions in children can look like ritualistic, repetitive behaviors such as excessive washing or cleaning of their hands, bodies, or belongings;
Rearranging items or placing items in certain order;
Checking and repeating behaviors such as turning switches or faucets on and off, opening and closing doors, putting clothes on several times, etc.;
Praying or reciting a mantra repeatedly or excessively;
Other symptoms of OCD in children that you might notice are avoidance of certain words, objects, people, or places that trigger their obsessive thoughts, and/or
Reassurance seeking by asking questions or making statements in order to get reassurance that things are okay or will be okay.
In addition to struggling with OCD, the child may also have one or more of the following disorders that often are diagnosed along with OCD:
* Obsessive Compulsive Spectrum Disorders such as: Tic Disorders, also known as * Tourette’s Disorder, Health Anxiety or Hypochondriasis, Compulsive Skin Picking, * Body Dysmorphic Disorder, Olfactory Reference Syndrome, and Trichotillomania or * Compulsive Hair Pulling
* Generalized Anxiety Disorder
* Depression or Depressive Symptoms
* Post Traumatic Stress Disorder
* Social Phobia
* Specific Phobia
* Panic Disorder
Where Can I Find Treatment?
Treatment For OCD In Children can be obtained at an Outpatient Clinic that has cognitive behavioral therapists that are specially trained in treating OCD. Given the fact that there are very effective treatments available for OCD in children, it is important to find an Outpatient Clinic that has well-trained, cognitive behavioral therapists. Some of the services they can provide include diagnostic consultations, school consultations, in home visits, family interventions, and individualized cognitive behavioral therapy.
What Does Treatment Entail?
Treatment For OCD In Children can be achieved by a combination of psychotropic medications and Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT). These are both effective treatments when used individually, however research has shown that a combination of medication with cognitive behavior therapy is the most effective treatment for OCD. CBT is a dynamic, collaborative process between the child, family, and the therapist by which the therapist supports the child in confronting his or her obsessions (fears) and compulsions (rituals that the child may do) and actively supports the child in gaining more and more independence from the OCD. By doing so, the therapist can help the child regain control over her or his life and significantly reduce symptoms of OCD and other anxiety or mood disorders.
