Problem
Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD)
Description
Children often experience obsessions and compulsions as part of normal childhood behaviour and it is important to recognise they can often disappear without intervention.
OCD involves both obsessions (intrusive repetitive thoughts) and compulsions (repetitive, ritualistic, unwanted actions) that take a lot of time and get in the way of activities. These will be either distressing or disabling and interfere with the child’s functioning and across settings e.g. school and home. This behaviour can also be as the result of anxiety or a change.
Referral pathway
When considering specialist referral the situation has to be distressing, disabling and interfere with the child’s day to day functioning. Symptoms are present over a significant period of time, and have a pattern of continual worsening. OCD can initially difficult to observe.
It is important to differentiate between younger children having normal magical thinking / transient obsessions and adolescents as the developmental expectations are different.
It is important to be aware of the possible co-existing presence of OCD within the population diagnosed with ASD as it frequently missed
This behaviour can often be due to a change therefore establishing normal routines may affect a positive change. In addition to advice given under anxiety, please see the Maudsley Hospital on OCD site, which has useful information for young people and children, families and clinicians;
