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Mental Health (Expert Forum)
Does my 10 year old daughter have OCD?
Questions posted in the Mental Health forum are being answered by Dr. Roger L. Gould, author of the Mastering Stress and Depression program and affiliated with the UCLA. Department of Psychiatry. Topics covered include anger, attention deficit disorder (ADD), bipolar disorder, dementia, electroconvulsive therapy (ECT), learning disabilities, memory, obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD), panic, personality disorders, phobias, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), schizophrenia, stress, transitions, and work problems.
Does my 10 year old daughter have OCD?
by Annette, Nov 02, 1999 12:00AM
Recently I discovered my 10 year old daughter has broken off her eyelashes and has pulled out some of her eyebrows. When I asked her why she was doing this she said because she had to make wishes with them. She wished for things like for us to have a baby, relatives who live far away to move close by, nothing would happen to her family, she would never get any diseases. She has always done things like keep a very neat bedroom, hair always in place, handwriting very neat, schoolwork very neatly done. But it never interfered with her life. But this really concerns me. We have had some trauma in our house (being robbed, I was attacked at home, close relative passed away). I've spoken to her pediatrician and the social worker at school. Both recommend therapy. She has promised never to do it again and I watch her like a hawk. I know I can tell if she does it so she can control it. Is this OCD? Other than this, she is a very well-liked child and very happy too. Loves to dance, draw, play with friends. What do you think?
Doctor's Answer
by HFHS MD - RG, Nov 02, 1999 12:00AM
Dear Annette,
An obsession is a recurrent and intrusive thought, feeling, idea, or sensation. A compulsion is a conscious,standardized recurring pattern of behavior, such as counting, checking, or avoiding. Obsessions increase anxiety,whereas carrying out compulsions reduces it; but when a person resists carrying out a compulsion, anxiety is increased. Obsessive-compulsive disorder is disabling and often time consuming and interfere significantly with people's normal routine, occupational functioning, usual activities, or relationships with friends and family
members. Well-controlled studies that medication and behavior therapy or a combination of both is effective in significantly reducing the symptoms of OCD.
Other conditions such as depression could have similar manifestations. Children may also become more obsessive and compulsive during times of stress.
An evaluation by a mental health professional is recommended.
Sincerely,
HFHS MD - RG
An obsession is a recurrent and intrusive thought, feeling, idea, or sensation. A compulsion is a conscious,standardized recurring pattern of behavior, such as counting, checking, or avoiding. Obsessions increase anxiety,whereas carrying out compulsions reduces it; but when a person resists carrying out a compulsion, anxiety is increased. Obsessive-compulsive disorder is disabling and often time consuming and interfere significantly with people's normal routine, occupational functioning, usual activities, or relationships with friends and family
members. Well-controlled studies that medication and behavior therapy or a combination of both is effective in significantly reducing the symptoms of OCD.
Other conditions such as depression could have similar manifestations. Children may also become more obsessive and compulsive during times of stress.
An evaluation by a mental health professional is recommended.
Sincerely,
HFHS MD - RG
