Common Obsessions — Symptoms of Pediatric OCD

Obsessions — or repeating, unwanted thoughts — are a symptom of obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD).

Children and adolescents with OCD may have these common obsessions:

Contamination Worries

• Dirt, germs, bodily fluids, or illnesses
• Taking on personality traits of others
• Animals or insects causing illness
• Household cleaners, solvents, or environmental wastes leading to sickness or injury

Fear of “Bad Things” Happening, Aggressive Thoughts

• Not being able to control impulses
• Harming a loved one
• Environmental disasters
• Excessive doubt about possessing a stolen item
• Violent images of harm coming to self or others

Need for Symmetry, Precision (“Just Right” OCD)

• Not tolerating items out of place
• Not tolerating the texture of clothing or food
• Overwhelming feeling that something must be fixed or finished
• Extreme discomfort when something feels uneven
• Difficulty making transitions

Urge to Tell, Confess, Ask, Know With Certainty

• Need to confess every detail about the day
• Uncertainty about understanding directions perfectly
• Not tolerating responses that are vague, such as “I don't know” or “maybe” 

Saving, Hoarding

• Overwhelming need to acquire objects, even if not needed
• Need to collect or carry items in pockets of no value (e.g., lint, pieces of paper from the floor)

Moral Dilemma and Religious Preoccupations (Scrupulosity)

• Extreme fear of telling a lie or having an “impure” thought
• Excessive concern about being right or wrong, or morally acceptable or offensive
• Excessive worry about offending religious figures or objects
• Rigid preoccupation with rules
• Distressing images or thoughts about what happens after death
• Preoccupation with making the “right” decision

Sexual and “Forbidden” Thoughts

• Worry that he or she has sexually assaulted a stranger
• Worry about behaving in a sexually inappropriate way toward a loved one
• Doubts about sexual orientation

Magical Thinking

• Associating certain numbers, colors, words, or personal behaviors with other people's actions or the outcomes of events

Make an Appointment With the Pediatric OCD Program

To a schedule an evaluation of your child's symptoms to see if they meet the criteria for an OCD diagnosis, or to discuss OCD treatment options, call 412-235-5354.