Kids and Quirks: What’s Normal and What's Not

By Georgia Orcutt

Recognizing What’s Normal and What’s Not

As parents, we tend to notice the quirky little things that our kids do. The way they eat corn on the cob in short rows instead of typewriter style, or insist upon wearing a certain combination of clothes. Their need to have a special blanket, stuffed animal or story before they can go to sleep. Their insistence that you must always stop for an ice cream after a visit to the doctor.

But some quirks are actually red flags pointing to obsessive behavior, specifically obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD). Researchers now believe OCD is more common in children and adolescents than previously thought, affecting an estimated 1 in every 200 young people. But it can be hard to diagnose in early childhood; kids without psychiatric conditions may show some signs or symptoms of OCD or anxiety.

To better understand OCD, we talked with Gregory Chasson, Ph.D., who for nearly 10 years has helped children who suffer from severe psychiatric disorders. As a clinical and research fellow in the Department of Psychiatry at Massachusetts General Hospital (MGH) and Harvard Medical School, Chasson is also the project director for the Longitudinal Family OCD Study and a cognitive-behavioral therapist for the OCD and Related Disorders Program at MGH.

1 What is OCD?

OCD is a mental disorder characterized by recurrent obsessions and/or compulsions that cause marked distress or interference in one’s life. Obsessions are recurrent, persistent thoughts, images or impulses that are, for the most part, senseless. Compulsions are repetitive, purposeful behaviors typically done to help alleviate the immediate distress associated with the obsessions. These compulsions typically follow certain rules and are carried out in a very specific way. OCD can impair school performance, friendships and family relationships.

The difference between normal behavior and OCD is that the disorder is distressing and causes impairment in daily functioning. Furthermore, children often lack insight and the ability to effectively communicate specific obsessions, or they try to hide their ritualistic behaviors.