Pediatric OCD & Related Disorders

Flashcards on Pediatric OCD & Related Disorders including Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD), Trichotillomania, and Body Dysmorphic Disorder.

Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD)

Characterized by distressing, intrusive obsessive thoughts and/or repetitive compulsive physical or mental acts.

Obsessions

Persistent and intrusive thoughts, urges, or images that are experienced as intrusive and unwanted, and generally cause significant anxiety or distress.

Compulsions

Repetitive behaviors or mental acts that an individual feels driven to perform in response to an obsession or according to specific, inflexible rules.

Common Obsessions

Include contamination, safety, doubting one's memory or perception, scrupulosity, and need for order or symmetry.

Intrusive Thoughts

Unwanted thoughts that are distressing and obsessive that can lead to compulsive avoidance of something and reassurance seeking to reduce anxiety.

Egodytonic

Thoughts and behaviors that are in conflict, or dissonant, with the needs and goals of the ego, or, further, in conflict with a person's ideal self-image.

Comorbid Disorders with OCD

Common disorders that occur with OCD include anxiety disorders, ADHD, ODD, vocal and motor tics disorders, learning disorders, eating disorders, depression and substance use disorders.

Prevalence of OCD in Children and Adolescents

About 1% to 2% of children and adolescents suffer from OCD.

Assessment: Dimensional Obsessive Compulsive Scale (DOCS)

Categories include: Concerns about germs and contamination, Concerns about harm, injury or bad luck, Unacceptable thoughts, Concerns for symmetry, completeness or things to be “just right”.

Treatment for OCD

Cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) including Exposure and response prevention (ERP).

Exposure and Response Prevention (ERP)

Repeatedly triggering the child’s obsessions (exposure) and helping them to resist the compulsions (response prevention) over a series of exposures.

Trichotillomania

A DSM-5 disorder characterized by the repeated pulling out of hair, resulting in hair loss; causes distress or impairment.

Trichotillomania Types

Includes Focused (deliberate, conscious pulling in response to unpleasant thoughts) and Automatic (habitual plucking, usually outside awareness).

Onset And Comorbidity Of Trichotillomania

Typically emerges in early adolescence and symptoms are comorbid with OCD.

Treatment for Trichotillomania

Behavior Therapy, Habit reversal training, CBT, Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) with Medications in conjunction with psychotherapy.

Body Dysmorphic Disorder (BDD)

Associated with an intense preoccupation with perceived or imagined flaws in appearance.

Body Dysmorphic Disorder (BDD) behaviors

Obsessive mirror checking, looking in reflective surfaces, grooming/primping excessively, camouflaging, avoidance behaviors, comparing body part, social media comparisons/unrealistic, reassurance seeking.

Treatment for BDD

SSRI and ERP Therapy

Muscle Dysmorphia

The individual is preoccupied with the idea that his or her body build is too small or insufficiently muscular.