The Treatment of Obsessive Compulsive Disorder Using Cognitive Behavioral Therapy with Exposure and Response Prevention Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD) has been recognized as a pattern of disordered behavior for several centuries, although it was often related to religious ideas and possession by the devil until the early nineteenth century, when doctors began to define the evident behaviors in terms of mental illness (Menzies & De Silva, 2003). Even still, a diagnosis of OCD was largely considered a life sentence as it was believed treatment resistant until the mid-to-late 1960’s (Foa, 2010). OCD is, as suggested by the name, defined by the presence of obsessions, compulsions, or both. The American Psychiatric Association ([APA], 2013) outlines obsessions as intrusive and anxiety-provoking recurrent thoughts, images, or urges which a person tries to suppress or neutralize. Compulsions are identified as behaviors or mental acts performed excessively in a rigid manner as an attempt to alleviate distress caused by obsessions or prevent a dreaded event (APA, 2013). Obsessions and compulsions reach a clinically significant level when they absorb an exorbitant amount of time (e.g., one hour daily), or impair a person in one or more major life domains (e.g., social or occupational functioning), and cannot be better explained by substance use or another medical or psychological condition (APA, 2013). Unlike many other diagnoses, OCD emerges as an equal-opportunity
The following is an overview about Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD), one of the most difficult psychiatric illness to be understood. The way of doing certain behaviors, thoughts or routines repeatedly is the essential condition of a person with OCD. In general, it is known and described by someone who is extremely perfectionist and meticulous. Unfortunately, they do realize those habits and be able to stop doing it. Common behaviors are such as checking locks, doors, stove bottoms, and lights, hand washing, counting things, or having recurrent intrusive thoughts of hurting oneself or somebody else.
“CBT refers to similar types of therapies … with the most important … being Exposure and Response Prevention (ERP)” (ERP). ERP combats OCD. In ERP patients are repeatedly exposed to compulsive triggering situations (Study Findings on Obsessive- Compulsive Disorders). The patient is then prevented from these compulsions (Study Findings on Obsessive- Compulsive Disorders). “ERP is typically done by a licensed mental health professional (such as psychologist, social worker, or mental health counselor) in an outpatient setting” (How is OCD Treated?). This is to insure the safety of the patient and to safely guide them back to recovery. With ERP commitment to not engage in compulsive behaviors is important in order to recover from OCD (ERP 1). The commitment and straight forwardness of ERP make it the best choice for the cure to OCD (How is OCD Treated).
Obsessive-Compulsive disorder is a type of severe anxiety disorder that impacts an individual’s entire life and way of functioning. Obsessions are considered intrusive and recurrent thoughts or impulses that cannot be removed through reasoning. Compulsions are the repetitive and ritualistic behaviors and actions that associate with the obsessions. These compulsions are to be performed according to specific rules or methods and are thought to prevent or reduce stress and feared situations. Both compulsions and obsessions cause disabling levels of anxiety. The individual affected is often able to recognize the behavior as excessive and irrational, but is unable to control or stop the behaviors without intervention.
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.
OCD, however, is often seen as incurable, but rather improvable, in the same way a condition such as diabetes would be. The most common form of therapy to treat a patient with Obsessive Compulsive Disorder is Cognitive Behavioral Therapy or CBT for short. The idea of Cognitive Behavioral Therapy is to change the way a person thinks by changing their perspective. By changing a patient’s thoughts, it is supposed to change the way they feel, so they don’t sense the urge to complete compulsive
You may have once thought you had OCD before because of an obsessions or habit that you pay attention to now and again. An example of this would be wanting to have a very neat or clean house and starting to think that it means you are a “neat freaks”. With this in mind, it would seem fit to diagnose everyone with obsessive-compulsive disorder otherwise known as OCD, yet that is not the case. The main difference with those who are diagnosed with OCD is that these obsessions and compulsions begin to greatly interfere with one’s daily lives while also causing a large amount of distress for the individual (CAMH, 2001).
Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder(OCD) within the Cognitive Theory (CT) model in the realm of explaining the causes of OCD. We identify what this disorder is, and touch on its history. In relation to CT we look at the different sections of CT: Exaggerated responsibility, importance of thoughts, exaggerations of threats, and perfectionism. Following this we look at the treatment options for OCD.
the more common and serious mental conditions. Studies conducted in the field of OCD have
Obsessions are unwanted ideas or impulses that repeatedly well up in the mind of a person with OCD. These are thoughts and ideas that the sufferer cannot stop thinking about. A sufferer will almost always obsess over something which he or she is most afraid of. Common ideas include persistent fears that harm may come to self or a loved one, an unreasonable concern with becoming contaminated, or an excessive need to do things correctly or perfectly. Again and again, the individual experiences a disturbing thought, such as, "My hands may be contaminated -- I must wash them" or "I may have left the gas on" or "I am going to injure my child." These thoughts tend to be intrusive, unpleasant, and produce a high degree of anxiety. Sometimes the obsessions are of a violent or a sexual nature, or concern illness. People with OCD who obsess over hurting themselves or others are actually less likely to do so than the average person. Obsessions are typically automatic, frequent, distressing, and difficult to control or put an end to by themselves. With these reoccurring obsessions continuously being played in the sufferers mind, they start performing repetitive acts that reassure them that their hands aren’t dirty, or the gas for the stove is turned of. This response to their obsession is called a compulsion.
Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) is a psychiatric illness that is characterized by two traits: obsessions and compulsions (Storch et al., 2007). The obsessions are typically thoughts that are both repetitive and intrusive in nature, while the compulsions are actions performed to decrease the anxiety induced by these obsessions. OCD occurs in about 1-4% of the population and often symptoms arise in childhood and can continue throughout one’s life depending on the level of treatment received and the level of family support.
OCD is taboo to some people, but it has come a long way since it was first discovered. The disorder was first discovered by Jean-Etienne Dominique Esquirol in the psychiatric literature in 1838 (Fornaro, 2009). When obsessive compulsive disorder was first
Prior to being seen as a legitimate mental health issue, OCD was originally thought to be a consequence of unholy behavior. Although the discovery of the disorder cannot be narrowed down beyond its major contributors, Sigmund Freud made major progress toward the understanding of the illness in the beginning of the 20th century.
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.
People generally appreciate the sight of a clean desk, or a good system to keep files tabbed and organized in a given space. Of course, there are those who believe they work more efficiently in a cluttered area, or claim to remember where an object was placed but now cannot seem to find it. However, once organization, daily ‘rituals’, or the unbearable urge to adjust something comes into play, Psychology describes this as Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD) or also referred to as Obsessive Compulsive Personality Disorder (OCPD). The mental strains inside a person with OCD or OCPD can become psychologically dangerous for relationships or quality of life for that person if the disorder gets out of hand. Individuals with OCPD attempt to maintain
Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD) affects up to 2.1% of adults and features pervasive and intrusive thoughts that lead to repetitive uncontrollable behaviors aimed to reduce anxiety (APA, 2000). Further, these thoughts and behaviors impede and disrupt daily living and cause marked distress in the lives of the sufferer. The recurrent thoughts often center on fear of contamination, harming self or others, and illness (Himle, Chatters, Taylor, and Nguyen, 2011). Those who experience the compulsive behaviors associated with OCD report feeling as though they cannot stop or control the urge to perform the compulsive behavior and that the urge is alien or from outside conscious control. Behaviors often involve