OCD Treatment for Children & Adolescents in Dubai - Camali Clinic

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About Service

Making Lives Better

Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD) is a recognised anxiety-related condition in which a child or young person experiences persistent, intrusive, and unwanted thoughts (obsessions) that cause significant distress, and feels compelled to perform repetitive behaviours or mental acts (compulsions) to try to reduce that distress. OCD can significantly interfere with daily life, schooling, and family relationships. At Camali Clinic in Dubai, our specialist team provides evidence-based assessment and treatment tailored to children and adolescents.

Who Needs It

Children and adolescents who experience recurrent, unwanted intrusive thoughts (obsessions) and perform repetitive rituals or mental acts (compulsions) to manage the distress caused by those thoughts. OCD is often under-recognised in young people and can be mistaken for general anxiety or rigid behaviour.

OCD Treatment for Children

1. Symptoms may include

  • Recurrent, intrusive, and unwanted thoughts, images, or urges (obsessions) – e.g. fears about contamination, harm, making mistakes, or disturbing thoughts that feel out of character
  • Repetitive behaviours (compulsions) performed to reduce anxiety – e.g. excessive handwashing, repeated checking, counting, tapping, or ordering objects
  • Mental rituals such as silently counting, repeating phrases, or reviewing events to 'undo' a feared thought
  • Significant distress caused by the obsessions, and rituals that are time-consuming (typically more than 1 hour per day)
  • Avoidance of triggers (e.g. avoiding touching certain objects, avoiding public places)
  • Reassurance-seeking from parents or carers, or involving family members in rituals
  • Difficulty completing schoolwork, eating meals, or leaving the house due to rituals
  • Exposure and Response Prevention (ERP) – the gold-standard, evidence-based psychological treatment for OCD. The child is gradually and safely exposed to feared thoughts or situations while learning to resist performing the compulsive ritual, thereby breaking the OCD cycle
  • Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) with an OCD focus – helping the child understand and challenge the meaning they give to intrusive thoughts
  • Parent and family involvement – parents are guided on how to respond helpfully to OCD behaviours and how to avoid inadvertently maintaining rituals
  • School liaison and accommodation planning where OCD is affecting academic performance
  • Psychiatry consultation for medication review where symptoms are severe or have not responded to therapy alone (SSRIs are the first-line medication for OCD)

Step-by-Step Support

How we provide the service

Learn how our structured, personalized process guides each individual through assessment, planning, and tailored support to achieve meaningful results.
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01
Assessment
A comprehensive assessment by a clinical psychologist or child psychiatrist to understand the nature, severity, and impact of the OCD, and to rule out co-occurring conditions such as ADHD or anxiety disorders.
02
Personalised Treatment Plan
A tailored ERP-based treatment programme is developed, with clear goals, a hierarchy of exposures, and involvement of parents and caregivers throughout the process.
03
Psychiatry Support if Needed
Where medication is clinically indicated, our child psychiatrist works alongside the therapy team to provide integrated care.

Specific FAQs

1.

Is OCD in children the same as in adults?

The core features are the same, but children may not recognise their thoughts as excessive or unreasonable, and parents are often more involved in the treatment process.

ERP is the most extensively researched treatment for paediatric OCD and is recommended by international guidelines. Most children show significant improvement within 12–20 sessions.

Not necessarily. For mild to moderate OCD, ERP alone is often effective. Medication is considered when symptoms are severe or when therapy alone has not been sufficient.