Obsessive Compulsive Disorder other related conditions To understand
Obsessive Compulsive Disorder & other related conditions. . .
To understand what a learning barrier is To understand what OCD and the effects LEARNING OBJECTIVES To understand how to support those with OCD in a classroom setting. To learn about similar conditions. GAD and ED. To discuss how we can improve our practice based on what we've learnt.
What is a barrier to learning? Barriers to learning refer to any difficulty or situation that may prevent a child from learning. 6 barriers to learning can usually be identified.
Emotional and Health barriers Financial Issues Cultural and Social Issues Barriers within the academic system Language and Education Learning difficulties
Group Discussion Discuss barriers to learning that we see within your service
Knowledge Finder What do you think OCD is? Common symptoms, affects and impact on learning
What is OCD? Obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD) is a common mental health condition where a person has obsessive thoughts and compulsive behaviours. OCD has 3 main effects: Ø OBSESSIONS Ø NEGATIVE EMOTIONS Ø COMPULSIONS Ø TEMPORARY RELIEF
Obsessive thoughts Some common obsessions that affect people with OCD include: Ø Fear of deliberately harming yourself or others Ø Fear of accidentally harming yourself or others Ø Fear of contamination by disease, infection or an unpleasant substance Ø Need for symmetry or orderliness Ø Obsessive thoughts of a violent or sexual nature
Compulsive behaviors Compulsions starts as a way of trying to reduce or prevent negative emotions caused by the obsessive thought. Common types of compulsive behaviour include: Ø Cleaning and hand washing Ø Checking – such as checking doors are locked or that the gas is off Ø Counting Ø Ordering and arranging Ø Hoarding Ø Asking for reassurance Ø Repeating words in their head Ø Thinking "neutralising" thoughts to counter the obsessive thoughts Ø Avoiding places and situations that could trigger obsessive thoughts
Obsession Task Note down as many compulsive behaviours as you can think of to match obsessions Fear of germs or contamination Fears that harm, illness, or death, will befall oneself or others; fear of causing harm to oneself or others, including violent or aggressive obsessions. Fears, feelings, or urges related to numbers. Scrupulosity, or the excessive fear of violating religious or moral rules. Fears, feelings, or urges related to symmetry or order Excessive doubting or dread of uncertainty Compulsion
Facts & Figures Ø Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD) is thought to occur in between 1 -4% of the child and adolescent population. In real terms that could mean that in an average primary school of 500 pupils there could be between 5 and 20 young people struggling with OCD. Ø As little as 89 p is spent on research each year for every person affected in the UK.
Facts & Figures Ø 50% of people with OCD fall into the ‘severe’ category Ø People with obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), especially those diagnosed before age 18, are less likely to pass compulsory school tests or to go on to higher education compared with peers who don’t have the disorder. (Reuters Health)
What causes OCD? There are two key views on the cause of OCD. They are not necessarily mutually exclusive. Ø Some scientists have argued that it is a psychological disorder Ø In contrast, others believe the disorder has a biological cause, caused by specific abnormalities in the brain - This is now a widely recognised view
Caudate nucleus damaged 'Worry signals' from orbital frontal cortex Affects thalamus = Stronger Compulsive behaviours
OCD IN A CLASSROOM
Behaviors associated with OCD Ø Fidgeting with clothing, shoes, complaining of skin irritation or bothersome clothing labels, changing clothing throughout day Ø If interrupted when reading/writing, having to start over at the beginning – Frustration/anxiety at being unable to complete a ritual Ø Seeking reassurance that they understood the question, or their answer is correct – Students may exhibit great anxiety over whether they get a high-test score/are praised for good work
Behaviors associated with OCD Ø Absence from lessons - aspects of activity may be triggering OCD symptoms Ø Disruptive behaviors Ø Re-reading/writing, excessive erasing and throwing work away Ø Asking questions repeatedly for clarification Ø Adjusting desk, contents of desk etc. Ø Difficulty moving on to a new project, task or room Ø Inability to make a decision
What strategies can Education staff use? Seating arrangement Extended time Laptops for writing Quiet rooms Not reading out loud Break work into chunks
Similar conditions GENERALISED ANXIETY DISORDER (GAD) & EATING DISORDERS (ED)
Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD) What is it? Ø Long term condition that causes anxiety around a wide range of situations and issues. Ø Can be mild or severe. Ø Anxiety around a wide range of everyday situations rather than one specific event. GAD and OCD: Ø Differences in Behaviour: Different reaction to anxiety. Ø Differences in Thinking: Different concerns/reasons causing anxiety.
Common symptoms associated with GAD which may also be present in OCD Ø Dizziness Ø Feeling Sick Ø Tiredness Ø Headache Ø Palpitations Ø 'Pins and Needles' Ø Muscle aches and tension Ø Insomnia Ø Dye mouth Ø Restlessness Ø Trembling/shaking Ø A sense of dread Ø Shortness of breath Ø Feeling 'on edge' Ø Excessive sweating Ø Difficulty concentrating Ø Stomachache Ø Irritability
Eating disorders (ED) What is it? o Unhealthy attitude towards food, which can dominate your life, and cause you to become ill o It can involve eating too much or too little or becoming obsessed with your weight and body shape. o Types of eating disorders: Anorexia Nervosa, Bulimia, binge eating disorder, other specified feeding or eating disorder Eating Disorders and OCD: o ⅔ of people with eating disorders also suffer from an anxiety disorder. � o Those with ED and OCD experience intrusive thoughts and compulsive actions. � But for those peopl who only have an ED, these obsessions and compulsions are typically limited to thoughts/actions related to food and/or weight.
Group Discussion
Case Study: Find 5 strategies to help this student: Ø I repeatedly revise the way letters, words, or numbers are written to make the look 'right' Ø I often get stuck rewriting the same letter or word Ø I am extremely slow with activities until everything is just 'right' Ø I constantly even up books or other items on a shelf or desk; aligning edges to be even Ø I rearrange items to be in a certain order, such as by colour or alphabetical order Ø I constantly seek reassurance that a task has been completed 'right'/'perfectly'; seeking affirmation that a mistake was not made.
Knowledge Finder What do you know now?
Group Discussion How can we improve our practice within our service?
References https: //adaa. org/understanding-anxiety/obsessive-compulsive-disorder/ocd-at-school/hidden-symptoms https: //www. bbc. co. uk/science/humanbody/mind/articles/disorders/causesofocd. shtml https: //www. childpsych. co. za/common-barriers-learning/ https: //www. nhs. uk/conditions/obsessive-compulsive-disorder-ocd/ https: //www. rileychildrens. org/connections/how-does-ocd-affect-children-in-the-classroom https: //www. nhs. uk/conditions/generalised-anxiety-disorder/ https: //www. verywellmind. com/what-is-the-difference-between-gad-and-ocd-1393010 https: //www. nhs. uk/conditions/eating-disorders/ https: //www. verywellmind. com/obsessive-compulsive-disorder-and-eating-disorders-1138191
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