In this approach, a person is deliberately and voluntarily exposed to whatever triggers the obsessive thoughts, and then is taught techniques to avoid performing the compulsive rituals and to deal with the anxiety. For a complete discussion on the treatment of OCD in kids and teens, please go to Summary of the Practice Parameters for the Assessment and Treatment of Children and Adolescents with Obsessive-Compulsive D isorder by the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry. OCD is sometimes accompanied by depression, eating disorders, substance abuse, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, or other anxiety disorders. When a person also has other disorders, OCD is often more difficult to diagnose and treat. Symptoms of OCD can also coexist and may even be part of a spectrum of other brain disorders, such as Tourette's syndrome.
Compulsive hair pulling is known as trichotillomania.
Please visit TLC for more information on this disorder which may start at the age of 12 or 13. Things Parents Can Do To Help Their OCD Child Childhood OCD can be a truly debilitating disability, not just a minor problem or personality quirk. Children with OCD experience extreme anxiety, embarrassment, sometimes even harassment, because of this disorder. Their OCD symptoms often prevent them from building good relationships, from achieving their best in school, and from having a normal childhood. The effects of this disruption can be painful and lifelong.