More OCD Relatives

copyright, 1999

I discussed trichotillomania, body dysmorphic disorder and depression in my last article. This week, let's look at disorders often found in children with OCD. The disorders seen most often in children and teens with OCD are ADHD, learning disorders, disruptive disorders, Tourette syndrome, tic disorders, depression and other anxiety disorders.

Team work is important in the treatment of children with more than one disorder. Doctors, therapists, teachers, counselors and parents need to work together to coordinate the treatment and education plans.

Tourette Syndrome

Tourette syndrome (TS) affects one out of every two thousand children. Symptoms begin before age 21 and last at least one year. Children with TS have tics, which are repeated involuntary body movements and vocal sounds. Many children - about 15 percent - have transient tics. Their tics come and go.

Tics are sudden urges to make a sound or movement and can include arm thrusting, shoulder shrugging, neck jerking, arm flailing, kicking movements, foot stomping, jumping, repeated throat clearing, sniffing, eye blinking, squinting, lip smacking, nail biting, barking, coughing, hissing, humming, stuttering, swearing, voicing short, often meaningless phrases and sudden changes of voice tone, tempo or volume.

When children have TS or a tic disorder and OCD, it becomes important to distinguish between tics and OCD rituals. Why? Because the treatments differ. A thought precedes OCD rituals, while a sensory feeling precedes a tic. For more information about Tourette syndrome, visit the Tourette Syndrome Association website at http://tsa.mgh.harvard.edu/

Attention Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADD and ADHD)

ADHD affects 3% to 5% of children and occurs four to nine times as often in boys. It is the most common neuropsychiatric disorder in children. Children with ADD have difficulty keeping attention focused on one thing and are more easily distracted. ADHD adds hyperactivity to the equation. Children with ADHD have excessive, uncontrollable fidgetiness and have difficulty sitting still.

ADD and ADHD are diagnosed when symptoms are chronic and present more often than not, are present at home and school, cause significant problems for the child, and are present before the age of seven. If symptoms begin after the age of seven, the doctor will consider other disorders, such as anxiety disorders, depression and P.A.N.D.A.S.

Children and adults with OCD often seem inattentive and distracted. We are focusing on obsessive thoughts or mental rituals. Children with OCD are often misdiagnosed with ADD or ADHD because they seem preoccupied and distracted. And of course, some children have both OCD and ADD/ADHD. Learn more about ADD/ADHD at the Attention Deficit Disorder Association website at http://www.add.org/

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