What is it about ?
Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD) is characterized by obsessive thoughts (obsessions) or compulsive behaviors (compulsions) that recur regularly and bother the sufferer.
It is common for children to have certain age-related rituals, such as the order in which they put on their clothes or the way they arrange their school supplies on the table. But if these rituals become so compulsive that they have a significant impact on daily life, we can speak of obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD).
This disorder is most often seen in children when they need to go to bed or school, when they get up and when getting dressed. Older children often find that these obsessions and compulsions are senseless or exaggerated.
We do not know the exact cause of this problem, but different factors seem to contribute, biological and psychological. Genetic factors are currently considered to play a decisive role in the early onset of obsessive-compulsive disorder. Children with OCD often also have tics (eg Gilles de la Tourette syndrome). Both conditions are more common in close family members than in the general population. The same is true for severe depression, anxiety disorders and behavioral disorders.
What is their frequency?
Obsessive-compulsive disorder affects 0.3 to 3% of children and adolescents. Among adults with OCD, first symptoms have occurred in childhood in one in 3 to 1 in 2 adults.
How to recognize them?
You notice that your child has obsessive thoughts and compulsive behaviors. This often happens at bedtime, when he gets up, when he gets dressed or when he goes to school. For example, your child will constantly recheck if he has finished his homework, he will wash his hands thoroughly after each contact with a new object, he will put on and take off his clothes in a well-determined order, he will put himself in the bathroom. always reads and leaves in the same way, etc. Often your child also has tics, such as repetitive eye or mouth movements.
He gets angry when you make comments about it or try to stop him from engaging in compulsive behaviors. These behaviors can become totally unjustified and start to take a long time: they can seriously disrupt the daily routine. In this case, it is probably TOC. Fixing on these obsessions and compulsions can also have an effect on memory and task performance.
How is the diagnosis made?
The doctor will listen carefully to what you explain to him and assess whether the complaints are in the direction of obsessive-compulsive disorder. Most of the time, psychological advice should be sought. Indeed, everyone can have a ritual behavior one day or another; it can therefore be part of the normal routine. The psychologist can determine if this behavior is abnormal and bothersome, and therefore needs to be treated.
What can you do ?
See the doctor if you think your child is having obsessions or compulsions. Try to create a serene environment and make sure that he does not end up in stressful situations. Make arrangements. Sport is an activity that relaxes both physically and psychologically. It is also good to inform the school about this problem to avoid misunderstanding.
What can your doctor do?
Psychiatric evaluation is indicated to confirm the diagnosis. Cognitive behavioral therapy is considered the most effective treatment today. The place to be given to drugs is not very clear. Sometimes we start antidepressants. But their use in children is controversial, and they cause side effects. It is important to start a suitable treatment early enough because this can have an influence on the long-term outcome. Often the symptoms of OCD do not go away completely with age (and remain present to a greater or lesser extent), but the right treatment will help your child learn to manage them better.
Want to know more?
Are you looking for more specialized help?
- Find a therapist – AEMTC – Association for the Study, Modification and Therapy of Behavior
- Find a psychologist – Commission des psychologues
- Mental Health Services – The Social Guide
- PMS Center – Wallonia-Brussels Federation
- The LUSS – A federation of associations of patients and relatives
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