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Although there is no cure for OCD, certain treatments can help control symptoms. A combination of psychotherapy and medications is the most likely approach. Psychotherapy may take place in an individual or group setting. Cognitive behavior therapy can help children learn to use different thought patterns and routines that will steer them away from obsessive and/or compulsive behaviors. Parental or caregiver involvement in this therapy is often crucial to the child’s success in learning new techniques to keep OCD symptoms under control.

In addition, children may be asked to participate in a form of exposure therapy known as exposure and response prevention. In this therapy, the child is gradually exposed to the cause that triggers obsessive or compulsive thoughts and is taught new coping skills that do not include obsessive-compulsive behavior. For example, children with a fear of germs may be asked to dirty their hands and then to refrain from washing them for a specific period of time. This pattern is repeated over a long period of time until symptoms gradually decrease in frequency and intensity. The therapist assists the patient in managing any anxiety that is produced during this process. The treatment is difficult, but it can be a highly effective therapy for patients with OCD, particularly children and adolescents. However, the developmental stage of the child will influence treatment decisions, because young children do not yet have the ability to process information necessary for exposure therapy.

Some patients may also benefit from certain types of medication. Antidepressants such as selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) are most often prescribed for children with OCD. These drugs interfere with the recycling of the brain chemical serotonin and help to control the child’s symptoms. Just how this reduces obsessions and compulsions is not clearly understood.

Parents should be aware that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has advised that antidepressants may increase the risk of suicidal thinking in some children. As a result, all children being treated with them should be monitored closely for unusual changes in behavior. However, recent research indicates that the benefits of such medication in the treatment of OCD far outweigh the risks.

Antidepressant medications can vary regarding the length of time until onset of relief, and it may take between 10 and 12 weeks to determine whether or not these medications are effective. In addition, some children do not respond to one SSRI and may have greater success with another. Antidepressants are typically prescribed for at least 9 to 18 months after the OCD symptoms stabilize, and some patients will require medication indefinitely.