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Obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD): OverviewOObsessive compulsive disorder (OCD): OverviewObsessive compulsive disorder (OCD): OverviewEnglishPsychiatrySchool age child (5-8 years);Pre-teen (9-12 years);Teen (13-18 years)NANAConditions and diseasesCaregivers Adult (19+)NA2016-07-19T04:00:00Z9.8000000000000054.7000000000000901.000000000000Health (A-Z) - ConditionsHealth A-Z<p>Find out the main features and causes of OCD and what you can do to help your child.</p>​ ​<h2>What is obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD)?</h2><p>OCD occurs when a person suffers from troubling and intrusive thoughts or images in their head and/or follows repetitive or strict patterns of behaviour (rituals) to feel less worried.</p><p>Most people with OCD, except very young children, recognize that the thoughts and/or images they experience are not true. However, they still believe them and feel compelled, or forced, to perform certain rituals to make them less troubling. This link between thoughts and behaviour means that it is more common for someone with OCD to experience obsessions and compulsions together than to experience either an obsession or a compulsion on its own.</p><p>Often, people with OCD engage in compulsive behaviour out of fear that something terrible will happen if they do not follow certain patterns. Completing the behaviour helps them feel "just right", if only for a short time. Teens and adults can express their worries about what will happen if they do not perform their ritual, but children — especially very young children — cannot do so.</p><h2>Key points</h2> <ul> <li>OCD is a disorder that causes a person to experience intrusive thoughts and/or repetitive behaviour.</li> <li>The main causes of OCD include genetics and chemical imbalances.</li> <li>A child may have OCD on its own or with other mental health conditions such as an anxiety disorder, depression, ADHD or an eating disorder.</li> <li>Speak to your child's doctor or paediatrician if you suspect that your child has OCD.</li> </ul><h2>What causes OCD?</h2> <p>The exact cause of OCD is unknown, but research is looking at many different factors.</p> <ul> <li>Genetics (characteristics that run in families) are known to play an important role in OCD. People who have relatives with OCD or anxiety have a greater chance of developing OCD in childhood.</li> <li>Abnormal levels of neurotransmitters (brain chemicals that carry information) are also known to play a part. In particular, low or imbalanced serotonin can contribute to OCD.</li> <li>OCD can also occur after a streptococcal infection. However, this type of OCD results from an autoimmune reaction where the body confuses its own tissues for the strep infection. Symptoms occur suddenly (many parents describe as almost overnight). As a result, it is <em>very</em> different from what occurs in what is normally considered to be childhood OCD.</li> </ul> <h2>How common is OCD?</h2> <p>OCD affects between 1 and 4 percent of children and teens, making it the fourth most common youth mental health problem today. Some studies have shown that as many as 8 percent of children and teens may have a mild form of OCD. This means that, while they may have some symptoms, they do not interfere significantly with their everyday routine.</p><h2>What to do if you suspect your child has OCD</h2> <p>If you suspect your child has OCD, speak to your child's doctor. They can refer your child to a specialist for diagnosis and treatment.</p> <p>If your child has already been diagnosed with anxiety, seek help for OCD from someone who is experienced in using <a href="/Article?contentid=709&language=English">CBT <em>and</em> treating OCD</a>. It is not enough to see a therapist experienced in anxiety treatment on its own, as different skills are needed to treat OCD.</p><h2>Further information</h2><p>For more information about OCD, please see the following pages:</p><p> <a href="/Article?contentid=288&language=English">OCD: Signs and symptoms</a></p><p> <a href="/Article?contentid=286&language=English">OCD: How it affects your child's life</a></p><p> <a href="/Article?contentid=709&language=English">OCD: Treatment with psychotherapy and medications</a></p><p> <a href="/Article?contentid=287&language=English">OCD: How to help your child</a><br></p><p>Please visit our teen mental health hub for teen-specific information on <a href="https://teens.aboutkidshealth.ca/Article?contentid=3808&language=English&hub=mentalhealthAZ#mentalhealth">obsessive compulsive disorder.</a><br></p><h2>Resources<br></h2><p>The following books and websites have some useful advice about OCD for parents and teens.</p><h3>Books</h3><p>Chansky, T. (2001). <em>Freeing Your Child from Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder: A Powerful, Practical Program for Parents of Children and Adolescents</em>. Harmony.</p><p>Derisley, J., et al (2008). <em>Breaking Free from OCD: A CBT Guide for Young People and Their Families</em>. London: Jessica Kingsley Publishers. </p><p>Dotson, A. (2014). <em>Being Me with OCD: How I Learned to Obsess Less and Enjoy My Life</em>. Free Spirit Publishing. </p><p>Jassi, A. (2013). <em>Can I Tell You about OCD? A Guide for Friends, Family, and Professionals</em>. London: Jessica Kingsley Publishers.</p><h3>Websites</h3><p>International OCD Foundation (2016). <a href="https://kids.iocdf.org/" target="_blank"> <em>OCD in Kids</em></a>.<br></p><p>TeenMentalHealth.org (2016). <em> <a href="http://teenmentalhealth.org/learn/mental-disorders/obsessive-compulsive-disorder-ocd/" target="_blank">Obsessive Compulsive Disorder</a></em>.</p><p>AnxietyBC (2016). <em> <a href="https://www.anxietycanada.com/parenting/obsessive-compulsive-disorder" target="_blank">Obsessive Compulsive Disorder</a></em>.<br></p><h3>Virtual care services for children<br></h3><p>Boomerang Health was opened by SickKids to provide communities in Ontario with greater access to community-based services for children and adolescents. For more information on virtual care services in Ontario to support obsessive compulsive disorder, visit <a href="http://www.boomeranghealth.com/services/child-psychology/">Boomerang Health</a> powered by SickKids.<br></p>
Le trouble obsessionnel-compulsif (TOC): présentation généraleLLe trouble obsessionnel-compulsif (TOC): présentation généraleObsessive compulsive disorder: OverviewFrenchPsychiatrySchool age child (5-8 years);Pre-teen (9-12 years);Teen (13-18 years)NANAConditions and diseasesCaregivers Adult (19+)NA2016-07-19T04:00:00Z000Health (A-Z) - ConditionsHealth A-Z<p>Découvrez les principales caractéristiques et les causes du TOC et ce que vous pouvez faire pour aider votre enfant.</p><h2>​​Qu’est-ce que le trouble obsessionnel-compulsif (TOC)?</h2><p>Dans le TOC, une personne souffre de pensées ou d’images inquiétantes et intrusives qui surgissent dans son esprit et/ou suit des comportements répétitifs ou stricts (des rituels) pour diminuer son inquiétude.</p><p>La plupart des gens affectés par un TOC, sauf les très jeunes enfants, sont conscients que les pensées qu’ils entretiennent et/ou que les images qu’ils voient ne sont pas réelles. Cependant, ils y croient quand même et se sentent obligés, ou forcés, de suivre certains rituels pour soulager le trouble causé par ces pensées et ces images. Ce lien entre les pensées et le comportement signifie qu’il est plus courant qu’une personne atteinte de TOC ressente à la fois des obsessions et des compulsions plutôt que séparément.</p><p>Souvent, une personne souffrant de TOC s’engage dans un comportement compulsif de peur que quelque chose de terrible ne survienne si elle ne suit certaines habitudes. Suivre ce comportement leur permet de ressentir un soulagement, mais qui n’est que de courte durée. Les adolescents et les adultes peuvent exprimer leurs inquiétudes au sujet de ce qui se passerait s’ils ne suivent pas leur rituel, mais les enfants - en particulier les très jeunes enfants - en sont incapables.</p><h2>À retenir</h2> <ul> <li>Dans le TOC, une personne souffre de pensées intrusives et/ou de comportements répétitifs.</li> <li>Les principales causes des TOC : la génétique et les déséquilibres chimiques.</li> <li>Un enfant peut souffrir de TOC seulement ou en association avec d’autres problèmes de santé mentale comme le trouble d’anxiété, la dépression, le TDAH ou un trouble de l’alimentation.</li> </ul><h2>Quelles sont les causes du TOC?</h2> <p>La cause exacte du TOC est inconnue, mais les chercheurs examinent de nombreux facteurs différents.</p> <ul> <li>On sait que la génétique (les caractéristiques qui se perpétuent au sein des familles) joue un rôle important dans les TOC. Les personnes qui ont des membres de leurs familles souffrant de TOC ou d’anxiété risquent davantage de développer un TOC dans l’enfance.</li> <li>On sait également que des niveaux anormaux de neurotransmetteurs (substances chimiques du cerveau qui transportent l’information) jouent également un rôle. En particulier, un faible taux de sérotonine ou un déséquilibre de celle-ci peut contribuer aux TOC.</li> <li>Un TOC peut également survenir après une infection au streptocoque. Cependant, ce type de TOC résulte d’une réaction auto-immune où le corps prend ses propres tissus pour l’infection à streptocoque. Les symptômes se produisent soudainement (de nombreux parents mentionnent une apparition quasiment du jour au lendemain). En conséquence, il s’agit d’un cas très différent des circonstances habituelles liées à l’apparition d’un TOC dans l’enfance.</li> </ul> <h2>Quelle est la fréquence du TOC?</h2> <p>Le TOC affecte entre 1 et 4 pour cent des enfants et adolescents, ce qui en fait le quatrième problème de santé mentale chez les jeunes aujourd’hui. Certaines études ont montré que jusqu’à 8 pour cent des enfants et adolescents peuvent présenter une forme légère de TOC. Cela signifie que, même s’il y a certains symptômes, ils n’interfèrent pas de façon significative avec la routine quotidienne de l’enfant.</p><h2>Que faire si vous soupçonnez que votre enfant souffre de TOC?</h2> <p>Si vous soupçonnez que votre enfant souffre de TOC, parlez-en au médecin de votre enfant. Il pourra diriger votre enfant vers un spécialiste pour un diagnostic et un traitement.</p> <p>Si votre enfant a déjà reçu un diagnostic de trouble d’anxiété, demandez de l’aide pour soigner le TOC auprès d’un clinicien expérimenté dans <a href="/Article?contentid=709&language=French">l’utilisation de la TCC <em>et</em> dans le traitement des TOC​</a>. Il ne suffit pas de voir un thérapeute expérimenté dans le seul traitement de l’anxiété, car il faut des compétences différentes pour traiter les TOC.</p>​​<h2>Ressources</h2> <p>Les livres suivants donnent des conseils utiles sur les TOC aux parents et aux jeunes (disponible seulement en anglais).</p> <h3>Livres</h3> <p><em>Being Me with OCD: How I Learned to Obsess Less and Enjoy My Life</em> by Alison Dotson (ages 14+)</p> <p><em>Breaking Free from OCD: a CBT Guide for Young People and Their Families</em> by Jo Derisley, Isobel Heyman, Sarah Robinson and Cynthia Turner</p> <p><em>Can I Tell You about OCD? A Guide for Friends, Family, and Professionals</em> by Amita Jassi</p> <p><em>Freeing Your Child from Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder: a Powerful, Practical Program for Parents of Children and Adolescents</em> by Tamar Chansky</p> <h3>Sites web</h3> <p>International OCD Foundation (2016). <em>OCD in Kids</em></p> <p>TeenMentalHealth.org (2016). <em>Obsessive Compulsive Disorder</em></p> <p>AnxietyBC (2016). <em>Obsessive Compulsive Disorder​</em></p>

 

 

 

 

Obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD): Overview285.000000000000Obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD): OverviewObsessive compulsive disorder (OCD): OverviewOEnglishPsychiatrySchool age child (5-8 years);Pre-teen (9-12 years);Teen (13-18 years)NANAConditions and diseasesCaregivers Adult (19+)NA2016-07-19T04:00:00Z9.8000000000000054.7000000000000901.000000000000Health (A-Z) - ConditionsHealth A-Z<p>Find out the main features and causes of OCD and what you can do to help your child.</p>​ ​<h2>What is obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD)?</h2><p>OCD occurs when a person suffers from troubling and intrusive thoughts or images in their head and/or follows repetitive or strict patterns of behaviour (rituals) to feel less worried.</p><p>Most people with OCD, except very young children, recognize that the thoughts and/or images they experience are not true. However, they still believe them and feel compelled, or forced, to perform certain rituals to make them less troubling. This link between thoughts and behaviour means that it is more common for someone with OCD to experience obsessions and compulsions together than to experience either an obsession or a compulsion on its own.</p><p>Often, people with OCD engage in compulsive behaviour out of fear that something terrible will happen if they do not follow certain patterns. Completing the behaviour helps them feel "just right", if only for a short time. Teens and adults can express their worries about what will happen if they do not perform their ritual, but children — especially very young children — cannot do so.</p><h2>Where does a child usually display their OCD symptoms?</h2> <p>Children and teens are more likely to display <a href="/Article?contentid=288&language=English">symptoms of OCD</a>, at least in the early stages, in the safety of their own home. However, in the more severe stages of the disorder, <a href="/Article?contentid=286&language=English">OCD can often affect other parts of their lives</a>, including their schooling.</p><h2>Key points</h2> <ul> <li>OCD is a disorder that causes a person to experience intrusive thoughts and/or repetitive behaviour.</li> <li>The main causes of OCD include genetics and chemical imbalances.</li> <li>A child may have OCD on its own or with other mental health conditions such as an anxiety disorder, depression, ADHD or an eating disorder.</li> <li>Speak to your child's doctor or paediatrician if you suspect that your child has OCD.</li> </ul><h2>What causes OCD?</h2> <p>The exact cause of OCD is unknown, but research is looking at many different factors.</p> <ul> <li>Genetics (characteristics that run in families) are known to play an important role in OCD. People who have relatives with OCD or anxiety have a greater chance of developing OCD in childhood.</li> <li>Abnormal levels of neurotransmitters (brain chemicals that carry information) are also known to play a part. In particular, low or imbalanced serotonin can contribute to OCD.</li> <li>OCD can also occur after a streptococcal infection. However, this type of OCD results from an autoimmune reaction where the body confuses its own tissues for the strep infection. Symptoms occur suddenly (many parents describe as almost overnight). As a result, it is <em>very</em> different from what occurs in what is normally considered to be childhood OCD.</li> </ul> <h2>How common is OCD?</h2> <p>OCD affects between 1 and 4 percent of children and teens, making it the fourth most common youth mental health problem today. Some studies have shown that as many as 8 percent of children and teens may have a mild form of OCD. This means that, while they may have some symptoms, they do not interfere significantly with their everyday routine.</p><h2>What to do if you suspect your child has OCD</h2> <p>If you suspect your child has OCD, speak to your child's doctor. They can refer your child to a specialist for diagnosis and treatment.</p> <p>If your child has already been diagnosed with anxiety, seek help for OCD from someone who is experienced in using <a href="/Article?contentid=709&language=English">CBT <em>and</em> treating OCD</a>. It is not enough to see a therapist experienced in anxiety treatment on its own, as different skills are needed to treat OCD.</p><h2>Does OCD occur with other mental health conditions?</h2><p>It is not unusual for a child or teen with OCD to have another mental health condition, such as:</p><ul><li>one or more <a href="/Article?contentid=270&language=English">anxiety disorders</a></li><li><a href="/Article?contentid=19&language=English">depression</a></li><li>tic disorder</li><li><a href="/Article?contentid=1922&language=English">attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD)</a><br></li><li>eating disorders such as <a href="/Article?contentid=268&language=English">anorexia</a>, <a href="/Article?contentid=282&language=English">bulimia</a> or <a href="/Article?contentid=274&language=English">avoidant/restrictive food intake disorder</a></li><li>hoarding disorder</li><li>trichotillomania (hair pulling)</li><li>excoriation disorder (skin picking)</li></ul><p>Some of these mental health conditions can be treated alongside OCD, but others may need other treatments. For example, tic disorders respond to a therapy called Comprehensive Behavioural Intervention for Tics (CBIT). During CBIT therapy, a person learns to recognize the urge that arises before the tic and then learns a competing response to essentially block the tic. Another type of anxiety disorder, such as social anxiety or generalized anxiety, usually responds well to <a href="/Article?contentid=702&language=English">cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT)</a>. This involves understanding the relationship between thoughts, feelings and behaviours and learning coping strategies to manage distressing thoughts.<br></p><h2>Further information</h2><p>For more information about OCD, please see the following pages:</p><p> <a href="/Article?contentid=288&language=English">OCD: Signs and symptoms</a></p><p> <a href="/Article?contentid=286&language=English">OCD: How it affects your child's life</a></p><p> <a href="/Article?contentid=709&language=English">OCD: Treatment with psychotherapy and medications</a></p><p> <a href="/Article?contentid=287&language=English">OCD: How to help your child</a><br></p><p>Please visit our teen mental health hub for teen-specific information on <a href="https://teens.aboutkidshealth.ca/Article?contentid=3808&language=English&hub=mentalhealthAZ#mentalhealth">obsessive compulsive disorder.</a><br></p><h2>Resources<br></h2><p>The following books and websites have some useful advice about OCD for parents and teens.</p><h3>Books</h3><p>Chansky, T. (2001). <em>Freeing Your Child from Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder: A Powerful, Practical Program for Parents of Children and Adolescents</em>. Harmony.</p><p>Derisley, J., et al (2008). <em>Breaking Free from OCD: A CBT Guide for Young People and Their Families</em>. London: Jessica Kingsley Publishers. </p><p>Dotson, A. (2014). <em>Being Me with OCD: How I Learned to Obsess Less and Enjoy My Life</em>. Free Spirit Publishing. </p><p>Jassi, A. (2013). <em>Can I Tell You about OCD? A Guide for Friends, Family, and Professionals</em>. London: Jessica Kingsley Publishers.</p><h3>Websites</h3><p>International OCD Foundation (2016). <a href="https://kids.iocdf.org/" target="_blank"> <em>OCD in Kids</em></a>.<br></p><p>TeenMentalHealth.org (2016). <em> <a href="http://teenmentalhealth.org/learn/mental-disorders/obsessive-compulsive-disorder-ocd/" target="_blank">Obsessive Compulsive Disorder</a></em>.</p><p>AnxietyBC (2016). <em> <a href="https://www.anxietycanada.com/parenting/obsessive-compulsive-disorder" target="_blank">Obsessive Compulsive Disorder</a></em>.<br></p><h3>Virtual care services for children<br></h3><p>Boomerang Health was opened by SickKids to provide communities in Ontario with greater access to community-based services for children and adolescents. For more information on virtual care services in Ontario to support obsessive compulsive disorder, visit <a href="http://www.boomeranghealth.com/services/child-psychology/">Boomerang Health</a> powered by SickKids.<br></p><img alt="" src="https://assets.aboutkidshealth.ca/AKHAssets/obsessive_compulsive_disorder_overview.jpg" style="BORDER:0px solid;" />https://assets.aboutkidshealth.ca/AKHAssets/obsessive_compulsive_disorder_overview.jpgObsessive compulsive disorder (OCD): OverviewFalse

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