Obsessive Compulsive Disorder in Adolescents

OCD or Obsessive compulsive disorder begins in adolescence in some persons. OCD can lead to acute discomfort which can impact carrying on day to day activities. When you suffer from OCD, you can suffer from obsessive thoughts which can be recurrent or persistent. You can even suffer from distress and feelings of anxiety. Mostly these feelings may be unrealistic. A person diagnosed with OCD may not have any control over his actions. OCD is a chronic illness which can be relapsing.

Younger children who are diagnosed with OCD may nurture feelings of anxiety. For instance they may always have a feeling that some harm would befall them. They may check windows and doors again and again owing to the fear that a thief may get into the house through an unlocked door. Adolescents suffering from OCD may fear about the possibility of getting afflicted by some disease such as AIDS or TB. Hence they may wash their hands several times a day for getting over that fear. By doing the same thing several times, they may be able to tide over their fear temporarily. They become more anxious by not performing these rituals.

OCD involves the striatum part of the brain and is a sign of unusual functioning of the brain. The patterns of brain activity vary widely from normal people and those suffering from some form of mental disorder. Studies have proven that OCD is a brain disorder and also a family problem. This condition can be worsened by a streptococcal bacterial infection. Even those who do not have a family history of OCD can suffer from it. Many parents hesitate to discuss the OCD condition of their children with other people for fear that they may be labeled as being mad. They do not discuss the problem with their children also. In the case of adolescents suffering from this problem, parental cooperation is very important. This along with the right remedial measures can go a long way in checking this problem and allowing the adolescent to grow into a confident adult.

This condition can be cured in most of the adolescents with effective treatment. The treatment can include medications such as sertraline, paroxetine, fluoxetine, fluvoxamine, clomipramine and others plus psychotherapy.