Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD) is a disorder, which causes an individual to have intrusive thoughts of a frightening or disturbing nature, which in turn may cause a person to do things repeatedly. It is characterized by obsessive thoughts and/ or compulsive behaviors that significantly interfere with normal life. Obsessions are unwanted, recurrent, and disturbing thoughts, which the person cannot suppress, and which can cause overwhelming anxiety. They are not voluntarily produced, but are experienced as events that invade a person's consciousness. The person neither wants nor welcomes them instead they usually resist them and will try to get rid of them (Desilva and Rachman, 1992, pg. 8). Compulsions are repetitive, ritualized behaviors that compulsive rituals can occupy many hours of each day (# 1OCD). The activity is not connected in a logical or realistic way with what is intended to achieve or it may be clearly excessive. The person recognizes the senselessness or irrationality of the behavior and does not derive any pleasure from carrying it out although it provides a release of tension or a feeling of relief in the short term (Desilva and Rachman, 1992, pg. 9). OCD usually begins in adolescence or young adulthood and is seen in as many as 1 in 200 children and adolescents. .
Many children have mild obsessions and compulsions at some time, for example, having to organize their toys in a special way or saying goodnight a certain number of times. It may be the result of anxiety due to stress or change (OCD in Young People). OCD symptoms often take up a great deal of the child's time and energy. Making it difficult to complete tasks such as homework or household chores. They often feel they must do their rituals exactly right or the rest of the day will not go well. At night they may feel they have compulsive rituals to do before they go to bed and at the same time they have to get their homework finished as well as tidy their rooms (OCD in Children).