At what age does OCD begin?

Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) is a disorder that typically begins in childhood, adolescence, or early adulthood . There is a first peak in childhood/adolescence (between 6 and 12 years old) and another in young adulthood (between 18 and 25 years old). Some people recall having obsessions or rituals practically since they can remember (5-6 years old), while others are able to pinpoint when their first obsession appeared (sometimes after a triggering event).

It's important to keep in mind that not all repetitions or rituals we see in a young child are obsessive symptoms. Rituals and repetitive behaviors are normal during the early years of a child's development . In fact, they are necessary and developmental, since children learn through patterns, imitation, and repetition, so they are very common in early childhood. Around age two, they begin to establish many routines, which provide them with structure. As they get older, they may collect or classify objects, repeat phrases, stories, or movies they like, or sometimes they may perform actions that resemble OCD rituals (repeatedly touching objects, placing them in a certain order, etc.). Unlike true rituals, these behaviors are not experienced as distressing; rather, they are usually performed according to the child's interests and are often easily redirected play that doesn't interfere with their daily life.