Mental health articles

Obsessive–compulsive disorder (OCD) in children and adolescents shares its clinical features with the disorder as seen in adulthood, although the nature of the obsessions and compulsions may be different. Children may be more prone to magical thinking and may show simpler thoughts and rituals. Unlike in adults, where the symptoms of OCD are recognised as irrational and foreign, this may not be the case for children. In addition, a proportion of children presenting with symptoms of OCD may have features of a pervasive developmental disorder (PDD) as well. Obsessive–compulsive disorder in children responds to both behavioural treatment and pharmacotherapy (usually with SSRIs).

 

Tags: adolescents, children, obsessive compulsive disorder, OCD