adolescents

The article was written and prepared by Dr. Samira Al-Ghamdi, a consultant psychiatrist for children and adolescents and treating cognitive behavior. Obsessive-compulsive disorder is a common disease known to have: 1. Repeated thoughts and fantasies 2. Unreasonable 3. Disturb the patient and he cannot resist 4. It may lead to compulsive actions 5. The rate of 1-2% of children in America suffer from obsessive-compulsive disorder. The numbers affected by this disease are increasing, and there are no statistics in the Kingdom.

6. The ratio of males to females is 3: 2, and the ratio of males increases as they get younger in age

the reasons

1- Hereditary: 12% in first-degree relatives

2- Non-genetic: smoking and alcohol during pregnancy / diseases of the immune system

Symptoms

Compulsive actions appear in children more than obsessive thoughts due to the child''s inability to express

Obsession abounds about an idea

1. Death of parents

2. Hygiene

3. Sexual matters

4. Physical illnesses

It may lead to exhausting repetition of conscience

Compulsive acts such as cleaning (washing hands / re-ablution / prolonged bathing)

Repetition of verbs

Recheck and observe

Repeat requests.

Obsessive-compulsive symptoms worsen at times, then improve, and then return again in a "chronic" manner.

Therefore, early intervention and treatment must be expedited

Diseases that may accompany obsessive-compulsive disorder

1- Hyperactivity and attention deficit

2- Separation anxiety

3- Phobia

4- Psychological anxiety

Influencing factors

1- Social pressures

2- Psychological stress

3- It may appear without any apparent reasons

Important Notes

1. Preschoolers may exhibit repetitive behaviors and actions within their normal development, so there is no need for concern

2. The symptoms of OCD must be differentiated from the autism spectrum

3. The diagnosis may be difficult in children under three years of age, so this must be done with caution

4. The OCD patient realizes that there is a problem and the extent of his disability, but when the disease is severe, he may lose his insight into the disease

5. Children realize it late

treatment

1- The first line of treatment is "cognitive behavioral therapy" in mild and moderate cases, and it must be done by a specialist in children

2- Treatment with drugs and antidepressants in severe cases

3- He may need high doses of medicine, so constant follow-up is required

4- Drug therapy and CBT together give better results

5- The earlier the intervention, the faster the improvement