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Is OCD Genetic (Hereditary)? What to Know About Passing OCD to Kids

5 min read
Dr. Keara Valentine

Your child may have gotten your eyes, easygoing spirit, and sense of adventure—but could you have passed on your obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), as well? It’s a very understandable worry, and one that therapists say they hear a lot from parents. 

Genetics do likely play a role in the onset of OCD. However, there are many factors that determine whether someone will develop the condition. (More on that in a moment.) So even if your kid has a family history, they could go their entire life without experiencing OCD. And while a lot is known about the general nature of OCD, the different subtypes of the condition, and how to best treat the condition, experts still aren’t clear what causes OCD to appear in a person. 

Here’s what you need to know about genetics and OCD, and how common it is to pass the disease onto your child. 

Do these experiences sound familiar? Learn how you can overcome them.

Here at NOCD, we know how overwhelming OCD symptoms can be—and how hard it is to open up about your experience. You’re not on your own, and you can talk to a specialist who has experience treating OCD.

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The genetics of OCD

Some diseases are strongly tied to a specific gene, such as breast cancer and the BRCA gene. But many conditions are thought to be caused by a combination of genes, along with external factors. This is true for a variety of mental illnesses, including OCD.

For example, research published in the journal Psychiatric Clinics of North America looked at 15 previous family studies on OCD and genetics and found that most of them supported the familial transmission of OCD. 

Other trials have echoed these findings. Studies among twins showed that when one twin had OCD, it significantly upped the odds that the other one would develop the disorder. This was especially true among identical twins. Genes also appear to have a much bigger influence if the onset of OCD occurs in childhood versus adulthood. (Because identical twins share nearly 100% of the same genetic code, and non-identical twins have about 50% of the same DNA, scientists can study them to help show things like heritability.) 

To put this all in perspective, the lifetime prevalence of developing OCD if a first-degree relative (a parent or sibling) has the condition is still fairly low—between 10 and 11%, compared to 2 to 3% among the general population.

There are several genes that have been identified that may contribute to the development of OCD, but the pattern of inheritance is complex, explains Gerald Nestadt, MD, MPH, a professor of psychiatry and behavioral sciences at The Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, and an author of the Psychiatric Clinics of North America study mentioned above. Your child’s odds of developing OCD depend on the versions of the genes they inherited, and in what combination. From there, Dr. Nestadt says, the environment can have an incredibly strong influence on whether a genetic vulnerability will express itself as OCD. 

How environmental influences impact OCD

The onset of OCD can be influenced by all sorts of things in the environment, such as childhood trauma, prolonged stress, or other mental health disorders. In some cases, there may be a genetic basis for the condition, but it takes a big life event to trigger it.  

According to the Mayo Clinic, OCD symptoms—such as compulsive handwashing, needing things to be orderly or symmetrical, or constant counting or checking—may also be learned. Just as a child figures out that making a silly face will elicit laughter from a parent, they may learn to engage in compulsive behaviors after watching someone they admire do the same. 

What do I do if my child has OCD?

If you feel your child may have inherited OCD from you, first of all, don’t blame yourself. There are many risk factors associated with OCD, and there is no surefire way to prevent it from developing. 

Fortunately, treatment options are available to help manage symptoms. In fact, the same approaches that teach adults how to challenge OCD and stop compulsions work for children, as well. 

The most important step is to get an official diagnosis. Often, symptoms in children can go unnoticed out of the fear and stigma that may surround their thoughts and actions. So as soon as you notice signs of OCD—or your child comes to you about them—it’s a good time to begin seeking treatment. One option is a form of therapy called exposure and response prevention (ERP) therapy. ERP is considered the gold-standard treatment for OCD, is backed by rigorous scientific research, and can help manage your child’s symptoms and improve their overall life experience.

In ERP, a therapist works through your child’s obsessions and gives them tools to resist the urge to engage in their compulsions. Over time, your kid will learn to experience their fears without relying on compulsions to ease their discomfort.

Access therapy that’s designed for OCD

NOCD Therapists have used ERP therapy to help thousands of people regain their lives from OCD. I encourage you to learn about accessing ERP therapy with NOCD.

Learn about ERP with NOCD

Where to find help for yourself or your child

Struggling with your own OCD symptoms is difficult enough—being a parent who’s concerned about the mental health of your child can be even more stressful. Rest assured that while OCD is a serious condition, there is highly effective treatment available to both you and your child.

NOCD offers convenient virtual treatment with licensed therapists who specialize in ERP, and can treat children as young as five years old via convenient virtual therapy sessions, covered by most major insurance plans. NOCD Therapists are able to work closely with the parents of children in therapy, coordinating therapy exercises, progress, and other important information securely and confidentially.

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Taylor Newendorp

Taylor Newendorp

Network Clinical Training Director

I started as a therapist over 14 years ago, working in different mental health environments. Many people with OCD that weren't being treated for it crossed my path and weren't getting better. I decided that I wanted to help people with OCD, so I became an OCD therapist, and eventually, a clinical supervisor. I treated people using Exposure and Response Prevention (ERP) and saw people get better day in and day out. I continue to use ERP because nothing is more effective in treating OCD.

Gary Vandalfsen

Gary Vandalfsen

Licensed Therapist, Psychologist

I’ve been practicing as a licensed therapist for over twenty five years. My main area of focus is OCD with specialized training in Exposure and Response Prevention therapy. I use ERP to treat people with all types of OCD themes, including aggressive, taboo, and a range of other unique types.

Madina Alam

Madina Alam

Director of Therapist Engagement

When I started treating OCD, I quickly realized how much this type of work means to me because I had to learn how to be okay with discomfort and uncertainty myself. I’ve been practicing as a licensed therapist since 2016. My graduate work is in mental health counseling, and I use Exposure and Response Prevention (ERP) therapy because it’s the gold standard of OCD treatment.

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