When a child has OCD or anxiety, the goal of treatment isn't just to reduce the scary thoughts — it's to help them get back to doing the things that matter. A 2020 study by Sperling and colleagues looked at what happened when 212 young people aged 8 to 19 went through an intensive group therapy program for OCD and anxiety. Instead of just measuring whether symptoms got better, the researchers asked a different question: did the kids actually start doing more — going to school, seeing friends, getting on with everyday life?
The results were encouraging. Both the young people and their parents reported significant improvements in daily functioning by the time treatment ended. Anxiety symptoms dropped noticeably, and so did depression. The program used CBT — a structured form of therapy that helps people face their fears step by step — in a group setting with family involvement.
This matters because symptoms and functioning don't always move at the same pace. A child might still have some anxious thoughts while being able to catch the bus, sit an exam, or eat dinner with the family — and that's real progress. Measuring whether someone is living their life again is just as important as measuring how often intrusive thoughts appear.
If OCD or anxiety is keeping your child from living fully, talking to a psychologist who specialises in these areas is a great first step.