Intergenerational Transmission and Family Accommodation in Paediatric OCD: A Case Report from India

Abstract

This paper demonstrates an intricate instance of adult OCD (obsessive-compulsive disorder) in a mother, and consequently, the development of paediatric OCD in a son via proxy compulsions. The adult patient has acquired contamination-based OCD that occurred five years after exposure to a family member with OCD symptoms. Her compulsions became more severe and even more intruder to force her 9-year-old son to perform rites of a comparable nature, which included phobia of contamination, avoidance, and obsessive handwashing. Both were evaluated on Yale-Brown Obsessive-Compulsive Scales with the result showing severe in the mother and moderate in the child. Cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) with exposure and response prevention (ERP) and pharmacological therapy of the mother as well as developmentally-specific behavioral interventions and family psychoeducation. Inhibitory factors, such as medication adherence problems, culturally based contamination beliefs, family resistance, and avoidance in school were treated with the help of motivational interviewing, culturally competent psychoeducation, active participation in school, and a gradual exposure hierarchy.  significant reduction in symptoms and functional improvement underpin the importance of family dynamics, accommodation reduction, and culturally adapted psychotherapy in the management of intergenerational transmission of OCD. This case is an example of pragmatic difficulties and efficient strategies to improve engagement, overcome obstacles, and assist long-term recovery in complicated OCD manifestations.