Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD) is a disorder in which people experience recurrent, unwanted thoughts, images, urges, or ideas (obsessions) and/or repetitive behaviors (compulsions).

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Common themes in OCD include:

Aggressive Obsessions

Contamination Obsessions

Sexual Obsessions

Hoarding/Saving Obsessions

Relationship Obsessions

Religious Obsessions (Scrupulosity)

Obsessions with a Need for Symmetry or Exactness

Somatic Obsessions

Miscellaneous Obsessions (e.g., Need to know or remember, Fear of saying certain things, Fear of not saying just the right thing)

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Cleaning/Washing Compulsions

Checking Compulsions

Counting Rituals

Repeating Rituals

Ordering/Arranging Compulsions

Hoarding/Collecting Compulsions

Miscellaneous Compulsions (e.g., Need to tell/ask/confess, Need to touch/tap/rub, Rituals involving blinking/staring)

Anxiety disorders, including Generalized Anxiety Disorder, Social Anxiety, and Separation Anxiety, impact people of all ages, regardless of their background.

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Generalized Anxiety Disorder is characterized by excessive anxiety and worry, more days than not, and the anxiety and worry are difficult to control.

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Social Anxiety is characterized by significant fear or anxiety about social situations in which one will be exposed to potential scrutiny or judgment by others. The individual may worry that they will do or say something that others will perceive as humiliating or embarrassing.

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Separation Anxiety is characterized by significant fear or anxiety related to separation from an individual that the person feels attached to. When expected to separate from the attached individual, a person with separation anxiety may experience difficult emotions, they may feel extremely worried or anxious, or they may refuse to separate.

Phobias impact people of all ages, and they may first present in childhood, adolescence, or adulthood.

Phobias are characterized by notable fear or anxiety about a specific object or situation (e.g., flying, heights, animals, receiving an injection, seeing blood). In children, phobias may be expressed by crying, exhibiting tantrums, freezing, or clinging to a loved one.

Tics and Tourette's Disorder impact people of all ages, and symptoms first present in childhood or adolescence.

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Persistent (chronic) tic disorder is characterized by one, or multiple, motor or vocal tics that have been present during the duration of the disorder. The motor or vocal tic(s) may wax and wane in frequency, but have persisted for more than 1 year since first tic onset. The onset of symptoms occurs before age 18 years.

Tourette's Disorder is characterized by both multiple motor, and one or more vocal, tics. These tics have been present at some time during the presence of the disorder, although not necessarily concurrently. The tics may wax and wane in frequency, but they persist for more than 1 year since first tic onset. The onset of symptoms occurs before age 18 years.

Trichotillomania/hair-pulling is characterized by repeated hair-pulling, resulting in hair loss. The hair that is pulled can be anywhere on the body (e.g., head, eyelashes, eyebrows), and the individual has tried repeatedly to decrease or stop hair-pulling.

Excoriation/skin-picking is characterized by recurrent skin picking that results in skin lesions, broken skin, and/or open wounds. The individual has also made repeated attempts to decrease or stop skin-picking.

Pediatric Acute-onset Neuropsychiatric Syndrome (PANS) is a clinical diagnosis given to children who have a dramatic onset of neuropsychiatric symptoms. Symptoms can include:

• Anxiety

• Depression

• Obsessions and/or compulsions

• Irritability

• Aggression

• Motor difficulties

• Restrictive eating

• Poor school performance

• Physical symptoms, such as sleep difficulties, bed-wetting, and frequent urination

Pediatric Autoimmune Neuropsychiatric Disorders Associated with Streptococcal Infections (PANDAS) describes a group of symptoms thought to affect certain children who have had streptococcal infections, such as strep throat or scarlet fever. Symptoms can include:

• Anxiety

• Depression

• Bed-wetting

• Changes in mood or personality (e.g., sudden rage or irritability)

• Sleep difficulties

• Disinterest in food

• Fidgeting and symptoms similar to attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD)

• Obsessive-compulsive disorder/OCD-like symptoms

• Tics

Depression is a common disorder that impacts millions of people worldwide. Depression is characterized by low mood, and symptoms may include:

• Loss of interest in things previously enjoyed

• Feeling sad, low, or empty

• Hopelessness

• Significant changes in weight without intentional effort (e.g., significant weight loss without dieting, notable decrease in appetite)

• Sleep difficulties

• Motor difficulties

• Fatigue or loss of energy

• Difficulties concentrating