Childhood Rituals: Normal Development or Obsessive-Compulsive Symptoms?

Abstract

The symptoms of obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD) have been viewed as extreme variants of normal developmental rituals and superstitiousness; however, difference in timing, content, and severity argue against this continuum. In a systematic comparison of 38 children with severe primary OCD and 22 matched normal controls, parents were interviewed about their child's early developmental rituals and current superstitions. Children were asked about superstitious beliefs. Children with OCD did not differ significantly from controls in number or type of superstitions. However, parents of the OCD children reported significantly more "marked" patterns of early ritualistic behavior than did parents of normal controls. When behaviors resembling primary OCD symptoms were excluded, other rituals did not differ leaving open the possibility that such behaviors were early manifestations of the disorder. Only a prospective study can determine whether these results reflect preclinical OCD or are an artifact of biased recall.

Hoarding in obsessive–compulsive disorder and related disorders: A preliminary report of 15 cases

“…All subjects were hoarders of non-food items, with a mean of seven item types hoarded (range [4][5][6][7][8][9][10][11][12][13][14][15][16][17][18][19]; in addition three subjects hoarded food items. Common items included letters (n = 12), magazines (n = 11), old clothes (n = 11) newspapers (n = 9), and receipts (n = 8) ( Table 1).…”

“…3,12 While hoarding is recognized as one of the eight symptom criteria of OCPD and may be linked with other OCPD criteria such as perfectionism, 2,6 studies have failed to show any significant differences between hoarders and community controls on the OCPD subscale of the Millon Multiaxial Clinical Inventory-II (MCMI-II) 13,14 In child and adolescent OCD, hoarding/saving compulsions have been reported at rates of 11-42%. [15][16][17] We present a preliminary study of the demographic and clinical characteristics of hoarding behavior in 15 adult subjects with OCD and OCD-related disorders. The spectrum and phenomenology of hoarding behavior, associated psychopathology, family history and treatment response, are described.…”

Obsessive–compulsive disorder in children and adolescents

“…For example, many children display specific routines at bedtime such as saying goodnight in a particular way to their parents and/or toys. 22 In order to be considered a compulsion, a behaviour must be distressing and/or impairing. Historically OCD has been considered to be an anxiety disorder.…”

Obsessive–compulsive disorder in children and adolescents

“…For example, many children display specific routines at bedtime such as saying goodnight in a particular way to their parents and/or toys. 22 In order to be considered a compulsion, a behaviour must be distressing and/or impairing.…”