Obsessive Compulsive Disorder is a chronic mental illness that can affect people of all ages. However, children are most affected by this disorder. This disorder involves the frequent obsessions. However, OCD can be cured with effective treatment therapies. However, if you want to determine the OCD symptoms checklist, then read this article thoroughly. Moreover, you will also learn the main causes and treatment of this disorder.
Obsessive-compulsive disorder in Children
Obsessive-compulsive disorder is a serious but common mental health disorder. This disorder affects the brain development and behaviour of children. As the name indicates, this disorder involves the obsessions. Children affected by this disorder are unable;e to manage their essential life chores. Instead of paying attention to their life, they spend more time in their unproductive thoughts and emotions. Anxiety and depression became their ritual and can persist till adulthood stages. Children suffering from OCS remain nervous and anxious all the time. OCD children also experience compulsions which are repetitive behaviours. Compulsions are performed to acquire pleasure. However, the comfort and pleasure generated are usually for a short span.
Primarily, according to various studies, it is estimated that approximately one in every third child is affected by this disorder. Moreover, the prevalence of this disorder increases when a child is affected by other mental disorders including depression, anxiety, ADHD, eating disorders, bipolar disorders and many more.
OCD Types and Symptoms
The symptoms and types of OCD are varied. However, the extent of severity and the duration depends on the cause.
OCD symptoms checklist
Children suffering from OCD disorder usually experience the common symptoms which are as follows:
- Doing things in repetitive modes without knowing
- Complications in regulating different life aspects
- Consider themselves worthless
- Failed to make appropriate plans
- Always question themselves before doing productive things
However, OCD in children’s symptoms is curable with an effective remedy plan.
Read More: Decrypting the Relationship: Does OCD Cause Depression?
Symptoms of OCD in teens
Most of the obsessions of teens are quite identical to obsessions and associated symptoms in adulthood. The OCD symptoms checklist in teens includes:
- Obsessions in terms of religious beliefs
- Sexual or aggressive thoughts
- Fear of getting any lethal or chronic disorder
- Fear from loved ones or relatives
- Disturbing thoughts
- Belief in superstitious things
- Unusual worries about upsetting god
Types of Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder
The most common types of OCD are as follows:
Order and Asymmetry
Affected persons experience obsessions and compulsions. They always try to arrange things multiple times. For example, they line up their furniture as well as their items. Instead of participating in productive activities, they waste their ample time in arranging the same objects multiple times.
Contamination
Persons affected by OCD always have a fear of contamination. They pay extra attention to their hygiene. In fear of getting affected by infectious organisms, they excessively clean their hands. Most people consider them insane due to their compulsive behaviour. Moreover, OCF females also clean their household products excessively.
Uncertainty and Double-checking
Due to a lack of confidence, affected persons are unable to make decisions. Moreover, they can also not effectively judge anything due to their struggle with doubt. OCD people are habitual in checking the locked doors again and again after locking them.
Inappropriate thoughts
All normal people think about different life situations but at a limited rate. In contradiction, OCD persons get badly indulged in their taboo thoughts or concepts. Instead of thinking to avoid them, they increase their intensity with their overthinking. Moreover, different types of taboo thoughts are categorized in terms of OCD such as:
Relationship OCD
This OCS exert a negative influence on the relationship. A person suffering from OCD are unable to give importance to their partners due to their negative thoughts and behaviours. Affected persons always doubt the love and concern of their partners. They make a habit t comparing their relationships with others. Instead of considering the worth of their own love life, they always try to find new partners.
Harm OCD
This type of OCD involves the undesired fear of harming others. An affected person remains in fear of hurting themselves and becoming the reason for danger for their loved ones. So the unusual occurrence of violent thoughts can develop harmful OCD.
What causes OCD in the brain?
Different studies reported the different causes for the onset of this disease. However, the actual cause is unknown. But the most common causes of OCD are as follows:
Biological Factors
Obsessive-compulsive disorder is caused by various biological factors. Various neurotransmitters are involved in the effective functioning of the brain. Serotonin is responsible for transmitting messages between the brain and different body parts. It also regulates various emotions, feelings, and thoughts—moreover, different biological cycles including sleep-wake cycles and reproductive cycles.
Deficiency of the soothing hormone can cause the onset of this OCD disorder.
Environmental factors
Stress is the main factor that can trigger the symptoms of OCD. Various traumatic incidents can also cause the development of this disorder. Anxiety or depression can result from various traumas that occurred in previous life history. Most of the females also suffered from OCD during their pregnancy stages. Moreover, different theories support the different OCS causes.
Learning Theory
According to this theory, OCD can also develop due to the continuous incorporation of negative thoughts in the brain. If the person is exhibiting the same behavioural pattern towards the environmental stimuli, the generation of negative perceptions can develop this disorder.
Genetics
Various studies also reported that OCD tends to run in families. Genes are the main units of inheritance that are transmitted from parents to children. So various genes are also involved in causing this disorder.
Various life factors are also involved in activating the genes that can cause this disorder. However, genes causing this disorder are more prone to activation in childhood as compared to adulthood.
Approximately, 65% of OCD symptoms occur in childhood, However, 35% account for the adulthood stages.
Does OCD damage the brain?
OCD is also involved in the reduction of grey matter in the brain. Grey matter is also involved in the processing of information. Persons suffering from this disorder also experience drastic changes in the following regions of the brain:
- Operculum
- Orbitofrontal
- Medial Frontal Gyrus
- Medial orbitofrontal cortex
Can OCD cause anxiety attacks?
There is a close association between OCD and anxiety attacks. Panic attacks are common in cases of all mental disorders. People suffering the obsessive-compulsive disorder are more likely to suffer from anxiety attacks. However, severe panic attacks can worsen other body symptoms. Your cardiac rate and breathing rate are also increased.
People affected by OCD experience the following symptoms in case of panic attacks which include:
- Chest Pain
- Eating disorders
- Palpitations
- Tingling sensation
- Sudden shaking of hands
- Body thrills
Is OCD a type of anxiety?
Approximately, 90% of US Americans are suffered from anxiety and depression. However, the most common anxiety disorder is Generalized Anxiety disorder. The persons affected by GAD disorder remain stressed for longer periods. Instead of diverting their mind, they remain persistent in their phase of sadness.
However, obsessive-compulsive disorder involves compulsive behaviours. Affected individuals are always busy with their unwanted thoughts and emotions. To deal with their anxiety, they participate in their compulsive behaviours. The purpose of their compulsions is to cope with their stress and anxiety.
Does OCD cause anxiety and depression?
Obsessive-compulsive disorder is based on the anxiety. However, there is a strong association between OCD, anxiety and depression. A person suffering from OCD can majorly express anxiety symptoms. So due to anxiety and OCD, a person feels extra sad, hopeless and worthless. These symptoms are enough to initiate depression.
Furthermore, all these mental disorders are referred to as comorbid. In most of the cases, they often appear together. Recovery of comorbid symptoms is quite difficult as compared to any single disorder symptoms.
What causes OCD to get worse?
Symptoms of obsessive-compulsive disorder can get worse in a periodic manner. However, the symptoms vary based on the prevailing medical condition. Most of the people experience new compulsions or obsessions. On the other hand, some compulsions start again under distressing situations. However, the severity of symptoms can extend if the condition is left untreated. There are numerous factors which are involved in the worsening of CD symptoms. However, stress is the major factor that can increase the intensity of OCD symptoms. Any sudden trauma can trigger anxiety or depression which in turn can worsen the OCD symptoms.
Similarly, different comorbid conditions can also cause the worsening of symptoms. The most common comorbidities include:
- Tic disorder
- Social Anxiety disorder
- Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder
- Substance abuse disorders
- Impulse control disorders
- Hypochondriasis
- Different types of anxiety disorders
Furthermore, various illnesses can also contribute to making the OCD symptoms severe. The presence of any illness initiates anxiety which then causes an increase in the intensity of OCD symptoms. However, with an effective treatment plan, you can prevent the condition from becoming severe.
Read More: ADHD Burnout: Signs, Causes, and Treatment
Treatment
The most widely used treatment includes the use of medications and different therapies which are as follows:
Dealing with Child
If your child is suffering from this disorder, you should deal with them in a very supportive manner. Listen to their feeling and create a secure environment for them. Show some concern and love towards them. However, if you are unable to deal with your child’s situation, consult with the psychotherapist. He can then better identify the symptoms of OCD. Instead of just relying on the doctor’s therapy, also participate in your child’s therapy. Assist your child in practising the treatment strategies.
Have some patience
The treatment of OCD takes time. So parents should have some patience to cherish with positive outcomes. They might have to go for repeated sessions to treat the situation permanently. Effective treatment is provided to the patients, after assessing the OCD symptoms checklist. Moreover, the assistance of child and adolescent psychiatry is also useful in treating the symptoms.
Medications
Not all physicians require medications. However, most of the patients require some medications based on severity. Most medicines involve Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors which include:
- Paroxetine
- Fluoxetine
- Fluvoxamine
Combine Therapies
Most of the therapies for OCD involve the combined dosage of medications and behavioural therapies.
The first and most common therapy involves the exposure of the patient to psychological tools. By exposing to the triggering factors of OCD, physicians can better identify the OCD causes.
Deep Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation
This therapy works best when medications or other traditional therapies become ineffective. This therapy is highly secure and does not cause any side effects, compared to medications. It involves the use of a deep TMS device that works in a non-invasive approach. This device is considered highly effective in treating OCD. As it causes the stimulation of neural activity of the brain structures by generating magnetic fields. Specifically, the anterior cingulate cortex as well as the medial prefrontal cortex undergoes the stimulation and causes the improvement in OCD.
Concluding Thoughts
OCD is a brain disorder that can affect the brain development. This mental illness can affect both men and women. However, it is more common in adolescents. Various environmental, genetic and biological factors are responsible for causing this disease. Moreover, affected persons can recover with medications, talk therapy and a few more. But before initiating the effective treatment plan, it is vital to determine the OCD symptoms checklist. Our experts at Brainpower Wellness Institute are highly skilled in crafting the finest therapeutic plans after assessing your symptoms. So if you are suffering from OCD, communicate with our experts and get the best mental health services.
