What is obsessive-compulsive disorder in children and teens?

Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) is a mental health condition. It makes your child have unwanted thoughts that occur over and over. To stop those thoughts, your child might develop a compulsion. This is an action or ritual that is done again and again.

For example, a child might worry constantly that if they get dirty, they will get sick. To handle this feeling, the child might wash their hands or clothes or clean things over and over.

The action makes your child feel better for only a short time. If your child tries to resist the urge to do it, they may feel very anxious or have panic attacks. The same can happen if your child isn't allowed to do the action.

Therapy can help your child learn to manage thoughts and actions. Your child may have one-on-one therapy, group therapy, and family-focused therapy.

Your doctor also may prescribe medicine to help with symptoms.

Symptoms of OCD often come and go. And they can change as a child gets older. The main symptoms are obsessions and compulsions. Obsessions are unwanted thoughts, ideas, and impulses that your child has again and again. Compulsions are behaviors your child repeats to try to control the obsessions and reduce anxiety.

Your child's doctor may prescribe medicines such as antidepressants. The doctor may also recommend counseling to treat the OCD. Treatment can help make the symptoms less severe. But your child may still have some symptoms after treatment starts.

Your doctor can check for OCD by talking with you and your child. The doctor will ask about your child's symptoms and past health. The doctor may also ask about any family members who have had similar symptoms. The doctor may also do a physical exam.

If your child was prescribed medicine, give it exactly as directed. Also, make sure your child goes to counseling and follow-up appointments. You can also help your child handle stress in healthy ways. This may include regular exercise, eating healthy, avoiding caffeine, drawing or writing about things that bother them, and expressing their emotions.

Experts don't know the cause of OCD. Some think that there may be a problem with the way one part of the brain sends information to another part. This may involve changes in the levels of certain brain chemicals, such as serotonin.

Some experts believe that strep infections can suddenly bring on OCD in some children or make its symptoms worse. These infections include strep throat and scarlet fever.

Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) is a mental health condition that causes your child to have repeated unwanted thoughts. To get rid of them, your child may do the same tasks over and over. Therapy can help your child learn to manage their thoughts and actions. Their doctor also may prescribe medicine to help with symptoms.