Symptoms of childhood-onset OCD vary widely from child to child. Some Common Obsessions Experienced by children and adolescents with OCD include:
· exaggerated fears of contamination from contact with certain people, or everyday items such as clothing, shoes, or schoolbooks
· excessive doubts that he/she has not locked the door, shut the window, turned off the lights, or turned off the stove or other household appliance
· marked over-concern with the appearance of homework assignments
· Symptoms of childhood-onset OCD vary widely from child to child. Some common obsessions experienced by children and adolescents with OCD include:
· exaggerated fears of contamination from contact with certain people, or everyday items such as clothing, shoes, or schoolbooks
· excessive doubts that he/she has not locked the door, shut the window, turned off the lights, or turned off the stove or other household appliance
· marked over-concern with the appearance of homework assignments
· excessive worry about symettrical arrangement of everyday objects such as shoelaces, school books, clothes, or food
· fears of accidentally harming a parent, sibling or friend
· superstitious fears that something bad will happen if a seemingly unconnected behavior is done (or not done)
Some common compulsions experienced by children and adolescents with OCD include:
· Compulsive washing, bathing, or showering
· Ritualized behaviors in which the child needs to touch body parts or perform bodily movements in a specific order or symmetrical fashion
· Specific, repeated bedtime rituals that interfere with normal sleep
· Compulsive repeating of certain words or prayers to ensure that bad things don’t occur
· Compulsive reassurance-seeking from parents or teachers about not having caused harm
· Avoidance of situations in which they think “something bad” might occur
In addition to the above symptoms, children and adolescents with OCD may exhibit secondary problems that arise due to the impact of their obsessions and/or compulsions on daily functioning. Academic difficulties, behavioral problems, peer conflicts, sleep disturbances, and family conflict are just some of secondary symptoms that frequently appear in children and adolescents with OCD. Unfortunately, these difficulties often become the focus of therapeutic attention, while the OCD that actually leads to these problems remains untreated.
Often people try to stop themselves from doing these things, but feel frustrated or worried unless they can finish them. Problems with obsessions and compulsions can cause distress and worry, and can begin to affect young people at home with their families or at school with friends
Many young people have mild obsessions and compulsions at some time, for example having to organize their toys in a special way, or saying good night a certain number of times. This is normal and may be the result of worry due to stress or change.
What causes OCD?
We do not know the cause of OCD for certain. Research suggests it may be due to an imbalance in a brain chemical called ‘serotonin’. It may also run in families and in people with tics (jerky movements) in the family. Very occasionally, OCD can start after an illness. It can also occur after a difficult time in their life like having an accident.
Children's OCD Guide
Parents' OCD Guide
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