Obsessive Compulsive Disorder in Childhood and Adolescence

Obsessive Compulsive Disorder is a common, chronic and long-term disorder in which people have obsessions or compulsions.

Obsessions are repetitive thoughts, impulses or mental images that cause anxiety. They lead. They are often found by the person to be irrational, compulsive and involuntary. Common obsession symptoms are:

• Fear of catching or being infected with germs

• Taboos or forbidden thoughts (sexual-religious thoughts, other Obsessions of harming someone or oneself)

• Wish for objects - events to be symmetrical or in perfect order

• Counting obsessions

• Hoarding obsessions

Compulsions are repetitive behaviors or actions that people exhibit consciously to suppress their obsessions.

are mental actions. Although the purpose of compulsions is to relieve the distress arising from obsessions, there is no logical connection between the action performed and the intended situation. General compulsion symptoms are listed below:

• Excessive cleaning / hand washing

• Ordering objects in a certain order

• Constantly checking things (for example, repeatedly checking whether the door is locked or not, whether you left the stove on)

• Compulsive counting (counting car license plates, certain such as counting to a number)

Not all rituals and habits are considered compulsions. Anyone can double check things. But a person with OCD often cannot control their obsessions and compulsions. To be considered OCD, these types of thoughts or behaviors must occupy the person for at least one hour every day. In addition, people with OCD do not enjoy performing their compulsions; they may think that they are relieved only because the anxiety caused by their obsessions is relieved. They experience significant problems in their daily lives and functionality.

According to epidemiological studies, the prevalence of OCD in childhood is 0.5-1% and the prevalence of OCD in late adolescence is 2-3%.

According to clinical studies, the average onset of childhood OCD is between the ages of 6-11. In ½ to 1/3 of OCD in adults, the disorder begins in childhood or adolescence, but it is usually not noticed in this period.

Although genetic factors play a major role in the causes of OCD, hormonal factors, childhood traumas and personality traits. (detail oriented, perfectionist, meticulous).

Rituals that are considered normal in childhood are generally within the scope of daily functional activities such as trying not to step on lines, determining lucky numbers, and are beneficial for the development of children, allowing them to control anxiety levels and socialize. Rituals associated with OCD are extremely uncomfortable, disrupt daily functionality, and lead to social isolation, and their contents are different. The obsession most often seen in childhood is the fear of contamination with germs, and the compulsion that comes with it is avoidance and excessive hand washing. Another frequently seen obsession involves concerns about harm to oneself or one's parents and is accompanied by a control compulsion. Other common compulsions include touching, counting, sorting, or mental actions (such as praying, thinking of specific things, mentally repeating). These compulsions can affect children's academic achievement and peer communication. Obsessions about sexuality are common during adolescence.

Children usually hide these OCD symptoms because they are ashamed of them or describe them in a milder way than they actually are. They suspect that the symptoms are 'crazy-abnormal'. They often explain themselves to clinicians more easily. For a complete evaluation, the clinician must obtain information separately from the child, the parents, and the teacher.

Disorders that frequently accompany OCD are:

• Depression

• Anxiety disorder

• Bipolar disorder

• Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder

• Tic disorder / Tourette syndrome

• Autism spectrum disorder

• Eating disorders    

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