Obsessive Compulsive Disorder Case Study

While over 2.2 million Americans suffer from OCD the causes of this disorder are still not very well understood in the scientific

After being diagnosed with OCD, all the authors either took medication, often an antidepressant, participated in therapy, or both.  Both Summers and Street at first dismissed the idea of taking drugs but later gave in (Summers 139+; Street 72+).  The therapy in most cases was quite similar.  The authors' therapists had them do things that were against their compulsions, such as only washing their hands once.  This therapy was used to show the patients that the things they thought would happen to them if they didn't complete their obsessions were just thoughts (Lanning 58+).  Many of the authors were not exactly thrilled about the therapy, but without it their

London, a 10 year old student, displays an inability to complete work and tasks in a timely manner at home and school. Her obsessive thoughts and compulsions have led to her ostracization in the classroom and a strained relationship with her mother. Due to her compulsion to repeat activities ten times and inability to control her thoughts, a diagnosis of Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder was established.

From a cognitive approach, obsessive-compulsive disorder is the result of people blaming their obsessions and compulsions on themselves and therefore having non-rational thoughts of bad things occurring if there compulsions are not acted upon. People with this disorder will attempt to neutralize their thoughts by the compulsions which is usually unsuccessful. In turn, the individual will only feel ease from the negative thoughts temporarily. Treatment from a cognitive approach focuses on giving the patient an understanding of the cognitive process involved in their disorder (Comer 167). Cognitive therapists will help the patient understand why they are feeling the way they are, then they begin to direct their thinking patterns in a more

There are a wide range of OCD symptoms, but unfortunately, research has showed that there is a long waiting process between the time when an individual begins with OCD symptoms and when they get first-time treatment. With an early diagnosis and treatment, the maximum benefit to the patient will be. Therapies, exercises, balanced-healthy nutrition and others will improved life style and reduce anxiety and fears to help in managing some aspects of an obsessive-compulsive

In Tina behaviors, it indicated that she has anxiety and obsessive-compulsive disorders (OCD). OCD has 2 parts, obsession and compulsions. Obsessions are thoughts, impulses, or images that persist and recur, so that they cannot be dismissed from the mind even though the individual attempts to do so (Halter & Vacarolis, 2014). With Tina, she has an obsession of negative and harmful thoughts would come to her daughter even thought she knows it is irrational but she cannot get those thoughts out of her head. Compulsions are ritualistic behaviors an individual feels driven to perform in an attempt to reduce anxiety or prevent an imagined calamity. Performing the compulsive can only reduce the anxiety only temporarlity, which makes patient with

Obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD) was once considered a rare disease, but today, it is one of the most prevalent psychological disorders present among society. OCD is described as “intrusive thoughts or images (obsessions), which increase anxiety, and by repetitive or ritualistic actions (compulsions), which decrease anxiety” (Stein, 2002). In the DSM-IV, Obsessive compulsive disorder can be diagnosed through observable behaviours or repetitive mental habits. Symptoms include; the constant washing of hands, and/or fears concerning danger to others or to self – resulting in frequent paranoia. OCD has been linked with lesions in various neurological circuits of the brain due to the consumption of dopamine agonists (for example, cocaine). In order for obsessive compulsive disorder to take clinical significance, dysfunction and distress must follow symptoms. The treatment of OCD was initially developed in the Freudian era, as psychoanalytical treatment was seen as the most effective treatment at the time for mind management. Conversely, recent empirical evidence proved otherwise. Pharmacological therapy and cognitive-behavioural therapy, also known as systematic desensitization are nowadays the most prominent remedies used in treating obsessive compulsive disorder.

One of the more compelling theories of the cause of OCD is the serotonin theory. Two different theories based on serotonin are more prominent than the rest. Giddens (2009) explains the theory by stating that OCD is caused from a lack of a chemical substance called serotonin (a neurotransmitter). Her theory is supported by the use of drugs that increase the amount of serotonin in the brain which relieve many symptoms of OCD. On the other hand, Penzel (2000) describes the serotonin theory as a disrupted transmission of serotonin. When the serotonin is being returned to it’s vesicle chamber, the last step of neural-transmission takes place prematurely, which then causes a brain dysfunction and forms compulsions. Though both serotonin theories do not agree with each other, both theories argue on behalf of nature in the nature versus nurture debate since serotonin and the lack or faulty

By using Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) individuals are able to be diagnosed and treated for many anxiety disorders, one of which is Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD). OCD is an anxiety disorder associated with invasive thoughts, impulses and urges which can cause severe anxiety for an individual. These obsessive thoughts can then cause the individual to act compulsively to prevent the stress and anxiety that is occuring (American Psychological Association, 2013). According to CBT, OCD is caused by distorted cognitions and the way different thoughts are being interpreted (Whittal, Thordarson & McLean, 2005). Treatment for OCD includes various CBT techniques including Psychoeducation, creating symptom hierarchies and then combining it with the behavioural technique of Exposure Response Prevention (ERP). Both the aetiology and the treatment of the disorder have strengths and weaknesses.

This article highlights the experience of a 46 year old woman with obsessive compulsive disorder, and how adding cognitive behavioral therapy to her treatment benefits her. Obsessive compulsive disorder is a disorder which affects approximately 2 to 3 percent of the population (Salkovskis, 2007) (Taylor & Reeder, 2015). Cognitive behavioral therapy is a method of treatment recommended by the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence, with the results proving to be effective ( Abramowitz, Foa, & Franklin, 2003; Anderson & Rees, 2007; Department of Health, 2001; NICE, 2006; Storch et al., 2008) (Taylor & Reeder, 2015). Likewise, group cognitive behavioral therapy is a proven effective treatment for OCD, with similar results shown from individual cognitive behavioral therapy (Hougaard, 2009) (Anderson & Rees, 2007) (Taylor & Reeder, 2015).

People with OCD usually have considerable insight into their own problems. Most of the time, they know that their obsessive thoughts are senseless or exaggerated, and that their compulsive behaviors are not really necessary. However, this knowledge is not sufficient to enable them to stop obsessing or the carrying out of rituals.

The client states she is having recurrent and persistent thoughts that are intrusive and unwanted. However, in obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), these thoughts meet the definition of an obsession. In addition, most recurrent thoughts in OCD are not linked to a traumatic event. Also, compulsions are present in OCD, and are not related to

Given the current rush to identify a direct phenotype for OCD, it may also be possible for researchers in this area to avoid the mistakes made by early adopters of this dACC modulatory approach. For example, adequate sample sizes and replication would be especially critical for gaining statistical and evidential support. Moreover, it would be imperative to compare the effects of normalizing dACC dysregulation in OCD patients against OCD patients without dACC modulation. Ultimately, these studies are likely to provide invaluable information regarding both the appropriate phenotypes to be included as well as promise of improving the lives of patients who suffer from

It started with a chill, each vertebrae vibrating one by one up my spine. Then the heat, my face flush and palms clammy. I could never keep up with my breathing, for it seemed as though each time I breathed out, I needed more air almost immediately. Soon, my mind was flooded with unsettling images, a new one appearing nearly every second, each worse than the last. Everything that I found comfort in was now an enemy. When will this end? My body could not keep up with the trembles and I could not resist the urge to scream. Was this room always so small? My eyes grew indecisive, darting across the room, until the capillaries within them bulged so greatly that I clenched my eyelids shut. Then, a long, deep breath.

Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder, also known as OCD, is a disorder that affects about two to three percent of the population (UOCD). Knowing what OCD is and who it affects is just step one in understanding the psychology of this disorder. The psychological symptoms of OCD can be quite varied which can make it difficult to diagnose. Understanding the therapy techniques and how people with OCD live their daily lives is one of the most vital part in the psychology of OCD. While the roots of the disorder may be complex, understanding the disorder in everyday life is quite simple.