Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD)
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Signs and Symptoms of OCD
All Signs & Symptoms of OCD
Here are the top symptoms or behaviors listed by parents of kids diagnosed with OCD:
| Symptom | Frequency | Number of mentions |
|---|---|---|
| Anxiety | Often | 5 mentions |
| Compulsive behavior | Often | 5 mentions |
| Angry behavior | Often | 3 mentions |
| Dizziness | Often | 3 mentions |
| Constantly cleaning | Often | 2 mentions |
| Obsession, fixation, or strong interest | Often | 2 mentions |
| Repetitive movement or behavior | Often | 2 mentions |
| Acting out | Sometimes | 1 mention |
| Depression | Sometimes | 1 mention |
| Difficulty completing tasks | Sometimes | 1 mention |
When do symptoms start?
How to read this chart
Anxiety
0 years oldAmount of children: 0%1 years oldAmount of children: 3%2 years oldAmount of children: 0%3 years oldAmount of children: 0%4 years oldAmount of children: 3%5 years oldAmount of children: 3%6 years oldAmount of children: 3%7 years oldAmount of children: 0%8 years oldAmount of children: 3%9 years oldAmount of children: 0%10 years oldAmount of children: 0%11 years oldAmount of children: 0%12 years oldAmount of children: 0%13 years oldAmount of children: 0%14 years oldAmount of children: 0%15 years oldAmount of children: 0%16 years oldAmount of children: 0%17 years oldAmount of children: 0%average 5 years 5 months old
Compulsive behavior
0 years oldAmount of children: 0%1 years oldAmount of children: 0%2 years oldAmount of children: 0%3 years oldAmount of children: 0%4 years oldAmount of children: 3%5 years oldAmount of children: 3%6 years oldAmount of children: 3%7 years oldAmount of children: 0%8 years oldAmount of children: 0%9 years oldAmount of children: 0%10 years oldAmount of children: 0%11 years oldAmount of children: 0%12 years oldAmount of children: 0%13 years oldAmount of children: 3%14 years oldAmount of children: 0%15 years oldAmount of children: 0%16 years oldAmount of children: 0%17 years oldAmount of children: 0%average 7 years 2 months old
Angry behavior
0 years oldAmount of children: 0%1 years oldAmount of children: 3%2 years oldAmount of children: 0%3 years oldAmount of children: 0%4 years oldAmount of children: 0%5 years oldAmount of children: 3%6 years oldAmount of children: 0%7 years oldAmount of children: 0%8 years oldAmount of children: 0%9 years oldAmount of children: 0%10 years oldAmount of children: 0%11 years oldAmount of children: 0%12 years oldAmount of children: 0%13 years oldAmount of children: 0%14 years oldAmount of children: 0%15 years oldAmount of children: 0%16 years oldAmount of children: 0%17 years oldAmount of children: 0%average 3 years 1 month old
Change in symptoms of OCD*
What happens to common OCD symptoms over time?
| Symptom | Worse | A Little Worse | Stayed About the Same | A Little Better | Better | Completely Resolved |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Anxiety | 0% | 0% | 20% | 20% | 40% | 20% |
| Compulsive behavior | 20% | 0% | 0% | 60% | 20% | 0% |
| Angry behavior | 0% | 66.7% | 0% | 33.3% | 0% | 0% |
| Dizziness | 0% | 0% | 0% | 33.3% | 66.7% | 0% |
| Obsession, fixation, or strong interest | 50% | 0% | 0% | 0% | 50% | 0% |
| Constantly cleaning | 0% | 0% | 100% | 0% | 0% | 0% |
| Depression | 0% | 100% | 0% | 0% | 0% | 0% |
| Difficulty completing tasks | 0% | 0% | 0% | 100% | 0% | 0% |
| Doesn't like to be touched | 0% | 100% | 0% | 0% | 0% | 0% |
| Fidgeting | 0% | 0% | 100% | 0% | 0% | 0% |
Conditions with similar symptoms to OCD
Parents also mention the behaviors, signs, and symptoms associated with OCD when they describe these conditions:
Autism
Symptom Frequency Number of mentions Not making eye contact Often 70 mentions Delayed speech or language development Often 52 mentions Non-verbal (not able to use words) Often 52 mentions Sensitivity to sound (hyperacusis) Often 43 mentions Repetitive movement or behavior Sometimes 38 mentions Not talking Sometimes 37 mentions Limited (or lack of) social skills Sometimes 27 mentions Developmental delays (behind on expected milestones) Sometimes 23 mentions Lack of social skills Sometimes 20 mentions Rocking body back and forth Sometimes 19 mentions Anxiety
Symptom Frequency Number of mentions Nervousness Often 49 mentions Panic attacks Often 42 mentions Unusual fears or phobias Often 31 mentions Shyness or social anxiety Often 26 mentions Frequent crying Sometimes 25 mentions Angry behavior Sometimes 16 mentions Separation anxiety Sometimes 15 mentions Constant worry Sometimes 14 mentions Anxiety in social situations Sometimes 11 mentions Fidgeting Sometimes 11 mentions Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD)
Symptom Frequency Number of mentions Hyperactivity Often 114 mentions Angry behavior Often 37 mentions Difficulty paying attention Sometimes 26 mentions Fidgeting Sometimes 26 mentions Impulsiveness Sometimes 25 mentions Short attention span Sometimes 23 mentions Forgetfulness Sometimes 21 mentions Difficulty focusing or concentrating Sometimes 20 mentions Talkativeness Sometimes 20 mentions Difficulty focusing in school Sometimes 18 mentions
Discussion of OCD
What was your approach to OCD? What were the results?
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