Do you feel that your adolescent or teen is struggling in life due to intrusive thoughts and compulsive behavior? If you suspect that there is an underlying OCD disorder responsible for this but you are not sure then you can get help from our OCD test for teens. Obsessive-compulsive disorder involves the occurrence of unwanted thoughts, images and perceptions in the mind which then urge the individuals to repeat any behaviour. With the help of an OCD test, you can identify the signs or symptoms of OCD. Early recognition of symptoms is essential to get treatment on time. After reading this article, you will get a complete insight regarding the OCD test for teens, the importance of early testing and the useful treatment options.
Understanding OCD in teens
Obsessive-compulsive disorder is a common mental illness that affects all individuals including adolescents and teenagers. This mental issue comprises uncontrollable and undesired thoughts which are referred to as obsessions. Due to obsessive thoughts, individuals suffer from anxiety and then get involved in repetitive behaviours which are called compulsions. Compulsions only give them temporary relief from the stress induced by obsessive thoughts. OCD in teenagers manifest differently as compared to adults due to their developmental stages. The onset of OCD symptoms can occur at any age but the symptoms are more noticeable at the time of teenage.
Different studies have reported that the prevalence of Obsessive-compulsive disorder in teenagers ranges from 0.25% to 4%. However, the symptoms of OCD vary in teenagers depending on their mental state. Therefore each parent or caregiver should be completely familiar with each aspect of OCD so they can provide the support on time.
Due to obsessive-compulsive disorder, teenagers face difficulty in their personal and academic lives. Moreover, they do not easily make bonds with their loved ones. Fortunately, OCD symptoms can be alleviated with the help of effective treatment plans including medications and psychotherapy.
What are the signs of OCD in teens?
The identification of OCD in teenagers is quite complicated due to the diversity in the symptoms. Moreover, symptoms can be mild to severe and affect the teenager in different ways. The most common OCD symptoms in adolescents are as follows:
Obsessive thoughts
The repeated occurrence of undesired thoughts that lead to stress such as excessive fear of contamination, making mistakes and aggressive thoughts.
Compulsive behavior
Compulsive behaviors are repeated acts which are intended to reduce anxiety such as excessive washing of hands, checking the doors and locks and arranging things over again and again.
Avoidance
Teenagers avoid those situations that they think can act as trigger factors of their obsessive thoughts and compulsions.
Distress over disruptions
Teenagers exhibit more often frustration and sadness when sudden changes occur in their daily routine.
Impairment in daily functioning
OCD symptoms affect academic and social performance and relationships with others.
What is the importance of testing for OCD?
With the help of OCD tests for teens, symptoms can be diagnosed early and then effective treatment is planned. If the OCD is identified on time then it leads to timely intervention which is essential for maintaining well-being. Therefore, parents, teachers and caregivers should always keep an eye on the mental condition of their teens and provide them with early support.
What are the main types of OCD tests?
The following are the main types of OCD tests which are used by the experts for OCD identification:
Self-evaluation
With the help of self-evaluation, individuals can identify the symptoms of OCD. However, individuals should not rely only on the results of evaluation as they are not definite diagnoses.
Clinical assessments
Clinical assessments are performed by the mental health professionals. Their strategy includes standardized questionnaires and interviews to identify the symptoms of OCD.
Structured Interviews
Experts ask different questions from teenagers to identify the extent and severity of OCD symptoms.
OCD test for teens – Parent test
With the help of an OCD test, you can get a clear idea of whether the teen or adolescent is suffering from OCD or not. Experts usually ask the following questions for OCD identification.
- What is the age of your child?
- Does your child feel excessive worry about germs, dirt and other contaminants?
- Does your child avoid touching different things?
- Does your child excessively wash your hands?
- Do you check the doors or window locks multiple times?
- Do your child repeatedly clean your belongings even where there is no need?
- How many times does your child try to arrange things in order?
- Does your child always feel to get accuracy in each thing?
- Does your child take extra stress that something bad can happen at a time?
- Does your child create an intrusive image of objects in your mind?
- Does your child count things over and over again when doing any basic task?
- How often does your child think that you can hurt others unintentionally?
- How often do you think that unwanted thoughts or images appear in your child’s mind?
- How often does your child desire excessive reassurance?
- Does your child spend more than 3 hours struggling with obsessions and compulsions?
How is OCD diagnosed?
OCD can be effectively diagnosed with the help of skilled and licensed mental health professionals. They evaluate the mental state by asking different questions of the teenagers. Moreover, they also determine their family history and previous family history. Then after completing the process of evaluation, they make the treatment plans for OCD in teenagers.
What are the treatment options for teens with OCD?
If an OCD test for teens is positive then the next step is to get assistance from a mental health professional. Experts recommend medications and psychotherapy depending on the teen’s mental condition.
Medications
The use of medications is considered the best way to manage the symptoms of OCD. Experts recommend different psychiatric medications for OCD treatment such as selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors.
Cognitive behavioral therapy
Cognitive behavioral therapy is a renowned type of psychotherapy that is used for the treatment of OCD in teenagers. With the help of this therapy, individuals learn to identify the triggers of their obsessive thoughts and compulsive behavior. Moreover, cognitive behavioral experts guide them on how they can deal with them and prevent their occurrence in future.
Exposure and Response Prevention Therapy
Exposure and response prevention therapy is a component of cognitive behavioural therapy. In this therapy, individuals are exposed to their fears and asked to prevent their usual; response. First, experts ask them to list down their all fears and thoughts which appear in their mind repetitively and become a reason for their compulsive behaviour. After they face all the distressing situations without showing any response. With time, they learn to control their mind to avoid the compulsions.
Family therapy
As teenagers spend major time with their parents and caretakers they should also have familiarity with OCD and engage in therapy so teenagers can also get their support and get relief from the symptoms.
How to support your teen with OCD?
As a parent or caregiver, you should have concern for your teen’s mental health. Encourage and support your teen to build confidence. Moreover, develop a friendly environment so they share all their mental health issues in front of you without any fear. You can also engage yourself in therapy sessions to help your child in overcoming the OCD symptoms.
Furthermore, parents should also ask their parents to observe their behavior in class. If any unusual behaviour occurs, then they report to you so you can take the early intervention after OCD screening for adolescents to prevent future consequences.
Seek the Professional help!
If you have concerns about your adolescent or teen mental health then remember that we are here for your assistance. Brainpower Wellness Institute is a top platform that provides mental health services. We are renowned for providing comprehensive solutions for all common mental health issues including OCD. However, if you want to completely understand your child’s mental health and diagnose the symptoms then you can consider our OCD test for teenage girls and boys. We also provide other mental health tests for teens. Our experts provide absolute guidance regarding the teen OCD assessment. Don’t hesitate to communicate with our experts to schedule a consultation. Get our support to recover from the OCD and live a free life.
