OCD is a brain disorder and tends to run in the family. Children and Adolescents fear they are going crazy. Most children can be treated with psychotherapy and medication effectively. Seeking help from a child and adolescent psychiatrist is recommended. Afflicted individuals usually experience severe anxiety if they are unable to complete their rituals.
Many therapists work to help the individual learn that nothing bad happens when the behaviors stop.
A major problem therapists face is getting the family members to understand that the person with OCD is unable to stop the behavior. Behavior therapists have had much more success than insight oriented psychotherapy. The latest drugs have been the SSRI class anti-depressants. The most effective type of treatment is a combination of medication and behavior therapy. The pamphlet explains that obsessions are thoughts, often intrusive and upsetting and gives some examples.