Anxiety in the very young
March 2010
How common is obsessive-compulsive disorder in younger children? Could you comment on treatment options? I have a two-year-old female patient with typical obsessive-compulsive behaviour and don’t know how to respond. Adam Kayumi, MD, Mississauga, ON
OCD and other anxiety disorders are fairly common in children but are rarely diagnosed before school age. Many behaviours that in older kids are deemed abnormal are developmentally normal in young children (such as self stimulatory behaviours and rigidity). If any behaviour is interfering with children’s development or functioning they should be investigated and treated. If a 2-year-old is exhibiting OCD-like behaviours, I’d suggest the parents gently redirect or distract them. It may also be worthwhile to investigate any family issues that may be the underlying worry for the child.
Jeff Weisbrot, MD
practice guidelines & special reports
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December 2011
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December 2011
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