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1. Nor Chr. Torp & Bente S.M. Haugland Family functioning and treatment of childhood OCD 29th Nordic Congress of Psychiatry
Stockholm, 24.09. 2009
Nor Christian Torp, PhD candidate
Bente Storm Mowatt Haugland, dr psychol
Centre for Child and Adolescent Mental Health, Eastern and Southern Norway What distinguishes OCD families from other families of children with psychiatric disorders is the inextricable way that they are brought into the illness. Nearly all children with OCD involve their parents, and sometimes siblings, in their rituals. Therefore, the OCD symptoms often dominate family life.
Conflict is rife between spouses and siblings on how to respond to the children’s OCD behavior, particularly in the handling of the rituals endemic to the behavior. The fact that so many families are directly involved in bizarre rituals for the sake of harmony is relevant to issues of co-dependency and family dysfunction.
Also of greatest concern to parents – is their inability to come to terms with the lost potential of their children. Many claim they can not enjoy life when their child is in so much pain.
What distinguishes OCD families from other families of children with psychiatric disorders is the inextricable way that they are brought into the illness. Nearly all children with OCD involve their parents, and sometimes siblings, in their rituals. Therefore, the OCD symptoms often dominate family life.
Conflict is rife between spouses and siblings on how to respond to the children’s OCD behavior, particularly in the handling of the rituals endemic to the behavior. The fact that so many families are directly involved in bizarre rituals for the sake of harmony is relevant to issues of co-dependency and family dysfunction.
Also of greatest concern to parents – is their inability to come to terms with the lost potential of their children. Many claim they can not enjoy life when their child is in so much pain.
2. Nor Chr. Torp & Bente S.M. Haugland The role of family functioning