Issues Involved in Recognizing Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder in Developmentally Disable Clients

Certain unusual behaviors in people with developmental disabilities might be unrecognized obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD). Compulsions, in persons unable to think abstractly or count, can appear differently from compulsions in persons able to comprehend concepts like contamination and counting sequences. The content of obsessive speech also varies depending on the comprehension and vocabulary of the person with OCD. People not showing classic symptoms of OCD have been at risk for this disorder not being recognized. Researchers report that certain medications are ineffective or worsen OCD, and that developmentally disabled people with undiagnosed OCD are at risk for being put on such medications. This article provides information to facilitate the recognition of OCD in developmentally disabled clients.