Children with obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) have obsessive thoughts that lead them to behave in compulsive ways. For instance, a child with this disorder may be afraid that something bad will happen to her parents, so she might go to the office during school to call her parents five times a day, check on them while they're sleeping and never feel comfortable sleeping over at a friend's house. This disorder affects a child's ability to be successful in school and make and maintain healthy relationships with peers.
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy
The American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry reports that psychotherapy, especially therapy that uses cognitive and behavioral techniques, can be an effective form of treatment for OCD. Cognitive behavioral therapists help children learn how their thoughts can cause them to feel certain things and lead to compulsive behaviors.
For instance, a child with OCD may be afraid of germs and getting sick. He might have thoughts such as, "If I touch anything with germs, I'll be infected and die," or, "If I don't wash my hands five times before I eat something, I might eat germs and microscopic bugs." The therapist would show the child how those thoughts lead him to be frightened and worried which then cause him to wash his hands constantly. Then the therapist would help the child combat the irrational thoughts that the child has. They might spend some time reading about how doctors recommend avoiding getting sick and how someone should wash their hands. Then the therapist would help the child reduce hand washing over a period of time in safe environments until he is able to wash his hands only once before eating.
Medication
Some therapists, doctors and psychiatrists will recommend that a child take medication to reduce the symptoms of OCD. The most common type of medication given to children for OCD is antidepressants, specifically SSRIs. KidsHealth reports that SSRIs can help a child decrease the impulse to perform rituals, such as hand washing, checking locks or walking through a doorway five times before entering a new place. Especially for children, medication should not be the only form of treatment. It needs to be combined with therapy.
Family Therapy and Education
If a child suffers from OCD, it's important to involve the other family members in treatment. All family members will benefit from learning about the disorder and how it affects the child. Then the family members will be better prepared to support the child and help her when she's struggling. Some family members may also need support to deal with the issue, because it can become extremely frustrating to deal with a child suffering from OCD.
