2. Obsessive/Compulsive Disorder: What is it? According to the
international OCD Foundation, Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD)
is a disorder of the brain and behavior. OCD causes severe anxiety
in those affected. OCD involves both obsessions and compulsions
that take a lot of time and get in the way of important activities
the person values (IOCDF, 2012).
3. How many people are affected with OCD? About 1 in 100 adults
or 2 to 3 million adults in the U.S. have OCD. This is the same
amount of people that live in Houston, TX (OFCD, 2012). At least 1
in 200 or 500,000 kids and teens have OCD. This is the same number
as the kids who have diabetes (OFCD, 2012).
4. Characteristics of OCD Contamination Concerns: -Fear of dirt
and germs or illness Safety/Harm -being responsible for a fire
Unwanted acts of aggression - Unwanted impulse to harm a loved one
Unacceptable sexual or religious thoughts -sacrilegious images of
Christ Need for Symmetry or exactness
5. OCD
6. Causes of OCD OCD involves communication between the front
part of the brain and the deeper structures. These structures use
serotonin, a chemical messenger (IOCDF, 2012). Research also
suggests that OCD runs in families. Studies also show that genes
may have a greater effect on OCD in children than they do in OCD in
adults (IOCDF, 2012). PANDAS (Pediatric Autoimmune Neuropsychiatric
Disorders Associated with Streptococcal infections) is a proposed
kind of OCD that occurs in childhood following the body's reaction
to infection.
7. Treatment for OCD 2 main types of treatment 1. Psychotherapy
-CBT (cognitive behavioral therapy) involves retaining your thought
patterns and routines so that compulsive behaviors are no longer
necessary (MFMER, 2013). -CBT: Exposure and response intervention-
exposing you to your fears and teaching you how to cope 2.
Medications Antidepressants are tried first because they can
increase levels of serotonin that may be lacking in OCD (MFMER,
2013). Other medications include: Clomipramine (Anafranil)
Fluvoxamine (Luvox) Fluoxetine (Prozac) Paroxetine (Paxil, Pexeva)
Sertraline (Zoloft)
8. How does it affect a Student A study conducted to examine
the ability of students with OCD to function in the 3 areas:
home/family, school/academic, and social found that 90% of parents
reported a significant problem in at least 1 domain; almost of the
parents and children reported at least 1 substantial problem in all
3 domains (Beyond OCD, 2013). The 2 most common problems were
concentrating on work and completing homework. OCD students
experience: -failure to concentrate on what the teacher says -mind
drawn away from reading -inattentiveness due to worrying about
other things -not able to understand key points the teacher makes
-miss out on key instruction due to rituals they have to perform
when taking bathroom breaks -avoid people and places that trigger
rituals -drastic drop in grades -almost impossible to catch up on
school work unless they learn to control their symptoms
9. Service models for OCD Peaceful Alternatives Counseling
& Therapy (Shreveport, LA) -Utilizes structured assessments and
a therapeutic approach to cope with life Guerin Counseling, LLC
(Shreveport, LA) -Uses a therapeutic approach, incorporates
existential, humanistic, Jungian theory, and techniques from Tai
Chi and related arts
10. Other educational considerations Per Beyond OCD: Peer
Education- -Educational curricula designed for disability awareness
(Kids on the Block) -Guest speakers -Documentaries -Appropriate
books and other print
11. Recommendations for Teachers -Per OCD Action: Effective
communication with parents: concerns notebook, OCD diary, or
monitoring form will help With parent permission, keep in contact
with childs therapist Be patient If the student becomes anxious
allow them to take a break Extend deadlines if OCD is causing a
student to not meet the deadlines
