COURSE OVERVIEW:

Welcome to the Obsessive Compulsive Disorder in Children course. This program will equip you with a clear understanding of what OCD is, how it presents in childhood, and how it affects emotional wellbeing, behaviour, learning, and family life. You will explore the nature of obsessions and compulsions, the causes and risk factors associated with OCD, and the developmental patterns that distinguish childhood-onset OCD from OCD that emerges later in life. The course also examines how symptoms evolve over time, the impact OCD has on daily functioning, and the broader costs of the condition for children, families, and their support networks.

This course begins by defining obsessive-compulsive disorder and examining how common it is in children, including the typical age of onset and whether OCD is exclusively a childhood condition. You will explore the differences in presentation between boys and girls, the contrasts between childhood-onset and adult-onset OCD, and the extent to which OCD symptoms remain stable or change as a child grows. This section also addresses the personal, educational, social, and financial costs of OCD, the hereditary patterns associated with the disorder, and the groups of children who may be at greater risk. You will explore what is known about the causes of OCD and how biological, psychological, and environmental factors contribute to its development.

A further part of the program focuses on identifying OCD symptoms in children. You will learn to recognise the kinds of obsessions and compulsions children may display, including the four motor compulsion types that commonly appear in childhood. This section also explains how obsessions and compulsions are related, why compulsions temporarily relieve the distress caused by obsessions, and whether excessive worrying can cause physical symptoms in a child. You will explore other mental health conditions that are sometimes confused with OCD, the risk of violence associated with OCD, and the indicators of suicidal thinking—along with guidance on what caregivers should do if they observe these warning signs.

The next learning area examines treatment options for childhood OCD. You will explore the full range of treatment choices, including the role families can play in supporting therapy and what to do when a child wants to stop medication or discontinue appointments. You will learn whether diet or exercise can support treatment and gain a detailed understanding of cognitive-behavioural therapy (CBT), including how CBT works, how it differs from medication-based treatments, and the specific method known as exposure and response prevention (ERP). This section also outlines the differences between the cognitive and behavioural components of CBT, introduces other CBT techniques that may be used with children, and explains when medication should be considered as part of a treatment plan.

Another part of the program explores co-occurring conditions and social impacts. You will examine the psychiatric disorders that may accompany OCD, how OCD can affect friendships, and why children with OCD may be teased or socially withdrawn. This section also addresses academic challenges, exploring why a child may be very bright yet perform poorly at school due to rituals, perfectionism, or time-consuming compulsions. You will learn what caregivers can do when homework becomes overwhelming, why a child may refuse to attend school because of rituals, and how to support them in returning to the classroom.

The course also explores the emotional burden associated with OCD. You will learn why children often feel guilty or ashamed of their intrusive thoughts and how caregivers can reassure them that these thoughts are symptoms—not reflections of their character. This section provides guidance on how to communicate with a child about OCD in a way that reduces fear, builds trust, and helps them understand that they are not at fault for the distressing thoughts they experience.

By the end of this course you will be able to understand the nature and development of childhood OCD, recognise symptoms and related conditions, support evidence-based treatment approaches, respond effectively to social and academic difficulties, and communicate with compassion to help children manage their experiences. You will gain the knowledge and confidence to guide families toward appropriate support while fostering a caring and informed environment for children living with OCD.

LEARNING OUTCOMES:

By the end of this course, you will be able to understand:

• What is obsessive-compulsive disorder?
• Is OCD common?
• What age does OCD usually start in a child?
• Is OCD only a childhood disease?
• Is OCD different in boys than in girls?
• Are there differences between OCD that starts in childhood and OCD that starts in adulthood?
• Are OCD symptoms always the same in an individual patient, or do they change over time?
• What are the costs of OCD?
• Is OCD hereditary?
• Is OCD more common in some groups of people than in others?
• What is the cause of OCD?
• What are the symptoms of OCD in a child?
• What are the kinds of obsessions we might see in a child?
• What are the kinds of compulsions we might see in a child?
• The four motor compulsions types
• How are obsessions and compulsions related? What do they have in common?
• Is it possible that the child can become physically ill because of so much worrying?
• What other mental problems are sometimes confused with OCD?
• What is the risk of violence in OCD?
• Is there a risk for suicide? What should I look for, and what should I do?
• What kind of treatment choices do we have for the child’s OCD?
• Is there anything I can do to help in the treatment of the child’s OCD?
• What is the role of family members in the treatment?
• What do I do if the child wants to stop taking his/her medications or stop seeing the doctor?
• Is there any special diet or exercise that I should have the child do?
• What is this cognitive-behavioural therapy?
• If OCD is a biological disorder, shouldn’t it be treated with drugs?
• There is an alternative to CBT called exposure and response prevention. How is it different?
• What is the difference between the cognitive and behavioural parts of CBT?
• Are there any other CBT techniques?
• When should we consider medication for a child with OCD?
• The child’s psychiatrist thinks she has another psychiatric disorder in addition to the OCD. What other conditions could she have?
• The child seems to be teased by the other kids and has lost his friends. Is it due to his OCD?
• We can live with the child’s OCD except for homework time, which is a nightmare. What can we do?
• What should I do if the child with OCD is very bright, but her grades and academic performance are bad?
• The child is refusing to go to school because of his rituals. What can I do?
• The child feels guilty and blames himself for the bad thoughts he has. How should we tell him they are not his fault?

COURSE DURATION:

The typical duration of this course is approximately 2-3 hours to complete. Your enrolment is Valid for 12 Months. Start anytime and study at your own pace.

ASSESSMENT:

A simple 10-question true or false quiz with Unlimited Submission Attempts.

CERTIFICATION:

Upon course completion, you will receive a customised digital “Certificate of Completion”.