Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD)

Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD) is a psychiatric disorder characterized by a person’s recurring and unwanted obsessive thoughts and the repetitive compulsive behaviors they exhibit to cope with them. OCD is frequently seen in children and adolescents. Studies have found that it affects 1-4% of young people. Excessive preoccupation with symptoms, performing compulsions for long periods, and intense anxiety due to obsessions coming to mind can cause impairment in attention and concentration.

Contamination obsessions: This is the most common type of obsession in children. They may think that germs, mud, urine, feces, and similar substances will contaminate them. In doubt obsessions, even if the necessary precautions have been taken, they want to be 100% certain and doubt many actions they have performed. In children, uncertainty obsessions such as “Did I pack my bag completely?”, “Did I lock the door?”, “Did I leave the faucet open?” can be observed. Other frequently seen obsessions include sexual obsessions, religious obsessions, symmetry obsessions, and aggressive obsessions.

No test is applied to diagnose OCD. The diagnosis can be made through the evaluation of a child and adolescent mental health specialist. An additional disorder may accompany 85% of children and adolescents with OCD. Depression, tic disorder, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, and anxiety disorders are frequently accompanying conditions.

If there is suspicion, a child and adolescent mental health physician should be consulted for diagnostic evaluation. Medications and therapy methods are used in the treatment of OCD. In cognitive behavioral therapy techniques, providing information to the family and the child/adolescent about the nature of the illness, explaining the treatment process, and explaining the structure of the mind and intrusive thoughts is the primary intervention. In medication treatments, mostly antidepressant group drugs are used.