Treatment Efficacy (OCD): A Case Study

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

The first argument for the use of ECT is the fact that majority of studies and modern literature show that this treatment is very successful in treating many psychological disorders. Evidence seems strongest for the efficacy in severely depressed patients, as well as manic patients (Reisner, 2003). When looking at those with major depression, the likelihood of substantial improvement ranges from 80-90% (Weiner & Krystal, 1994). In manic patients, Gabbard concludes that 80% of patients show “marked improvement” (2001, p.1272).

Obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD) is defined by having unwanted and intrusive obsessions and responding to these obsessions with compulsions. There are a couple circulatory abnormalities in patients with OCD including the thalamus and prefrontal cortex. These abnormalities are thought to be the cause of the disorder. Treatment options for OCD include behavioral therapy and the use of selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs). Switching SSRIs can lead to serotonin syndrome if patients do not let one drug out of their system before taking the new one. Patients sometimes use both treatments in effort to maximize results. Patients with OCD understand that their compulsions are absurd, but cannot help satisfying their compulsion.

Cognitive Therapy was created by Aaron Beck during the 1960s and it believes that people’s thoughts and the meaning people give to them, could be helpful or harmful, (Seligman & Reichenberg, 2014). I chose CT because it’s structured and measurable when compared to Albert Ellis REBT, and also because of what I’ve seen in my students, and one more specifically. Another reason is that CT helps treat the Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD). “Anxiety management training (Blowers, Cobb & Mathews, 1987) and cognitive –behavioral techniques (Durham & Turvey, 1987) have been used with promising results.” Nowadays, all these testing are creating more anxiety in our students too. According to ADAA, Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD) is characterized by persistent and

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).

Randomized Controlled Trial (RCTs) demonstrates that the use of ECT is effectual when treating major depression. However, it quickly resolves all mental problems. When controlled in a setting that is safe, the treatment becomes comfortable. Some researchers argue that Genuine ECT is more effective in treating acute treatment caused by depression rather than sham ECT. In addition, ECT is also more effective in comparison with standard antidepressant medication treatment (Sienaert 8). Clinical trials that compare ECT with optimal pharmacotherapy are yet to be conducted. There is no evidence that demonstrates the ECT effectiveness in the treatment of Schizophrenia. Genuine ECT has been more effective in

In particular, refining the CSTC circuits will hopefully influence researchers to begin developing more effective treatments that target regions of the dACC. But while dACC modulation may largely decrease behaviors, thoughts, and actions associated with OCD, there still remain doubts that OCD will ever be treated solely with this strategy given society’s and nature’s interactive role. Instead, a combination of approaches is essential and the importance of psycho, cognitive, and behavioral therapy should not be

As stated, there are numerous empirical studies that state that ERP tends to be the most effective form of treatment for OCD sufferers.

With all these symptoms mentioned, and alterations within the body, there is a wide range of treatment that OCD patients can undergo. Unfortunately, OCD cannot be cured, and many researchers consider it to be a life-long disorder; however, its symptoms can be managed through the proper medication. Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors are used as part of treatment, as they reduce depression by increasing the levels of serotonin in the brain. SSRI’s block the reuptake of serotonin, making more serotonin available for further use. Anti-depressants are also used when the patient reaches a point of helplessness, and possibly depression. On the other hand, anti-anxiety medication can also be utilized to help ease the patient’s anxiety when bombarded with discomforting obsessions that lead to compulsions. Exposure and response prevention therapy is utilized during cognitive-behavior therapy, where the psychologist or psychiatrist expose the patient to situations that provoke certain obsessions and anxiety, where the patient feels the urge to perform certain compulsions in order to reduce or end the anxiety he/she is feeling. The medical caregiver’s job is to help the patient overcome these obsessions by not performing the compulsions. The purpose of this type of therapy is to teach patients that abstaining from performing these compulsions will not result in these perceived harmful consequences (Abramowitz and Taylor, 2009). The therapy helps

Many American suffer from mental disorders in fact “about one in four adults — suffer from a diagnosable mental disorder in a given year.” One disorder that is typically seems to be misunderstood and overgeneralized by the general public is obsessive-compulsive disorder. Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder, otherwise known as OCD is defined as “a type of anxiety disorder characterized by recurrent obsessions, compulsions, or both” (Textbook 574).This disorder is one the most costly, disabling, prevalent of the anxiety disorders (article) It is typically associated with persistent thoughts and ideas such as contamination, aggressive impulses, sexual content, and somatic concerns (health and body), these thoughts can be classified as obsessions. Obsessions are not something the person wants at all typically they are intrusive and uncontrollable and generally go against how they actually feel. Another part of this disorder is the compulsions, which are repeated behavior to neutralize or stabilize the obsessions. To be diagnosed with OCD one must know the behavior is irrational, the behavior must cause impairment to daily life and take up at least an hour per day or more of the person’s time. Some the more typical examples of OCD would consist of a person that one’s hands are filthy even if they have washed them 15 times in the last hour or having to check and make sure that you locked your home repeatedly before you leave. The lifetime prevalence for it is 2 to 3 percent. Onset for

Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (the fourth most prevalent psychiatric disorder), is an illness marked by the presence of either one or both of the criteria for having obsessive thoughts and repeating compulsive behaviors in order to repress the anxiety that the thoughts provoke. Since first being observed in the17th century, major developments have occurred in the diagnosis and treatment arenas of the illness. Furthermore, “obsessive-compulsive disorder is associated with substantial direct and indirect costs, which are compounded by an absence of recognition, and by under diagnosis and inappropriate treatment” (Stein, 2002). With continued research and development of new technological advancements such as brain imaging,

Many OCD symptoms are represented by at least four to five symptom dimensions. This experiment was conducted to determine the relationship between OCD symptoms, and OCD cognition. They did so, by using the “Gold Standard” clinician-administrate red scale for OCD the Yale-Brown Obsessive-Compulsive Scale (Y-BOSC). I will be using information from the results portion of their experiment.

Obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD) is a mental illness which is recognised by thousands of healthcare professionals and experts around the world, it is estimated that approximately 741,504 people are living with OCD at any one time3. Although this may not seem like a large number, this disorder is one that can have a significant negative impact on someone’s everyday life and can result in them rarely leaving the house and/ or compromising many aspects of their lifestyle. It can present itself in many different forms, which can make it especially difficult to spot, diagnose and begin to treat. In the UK, the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence’s guidelines on obsessive–compulsive disorder (OCD) recommend cognitive–behavioural

Because of this “dysfunction of CSTC” (Hou et al., 2012), individuals with OCD showcase several obsessive and/or compulsive symptoms. “While the specific content of obsessions and compulsions varies among individuals, certain symptom dimensions are common in OCD, including those of cleaning (contamination obsessions and cleaning compulsions); symmetry (symmetry obsessions are repeating, ordering, and counting compulsions); forbidden or taboo thoughts (e.g., aggressive, sexual, or religious obsessions and related compulsions); and harm (e.g., fears of harm to oneself or others and checking compulsions)” (American Psychiatric Association, 2013). Some individuals with Obsessive-compulsive disorder do not have difficulty with controlling their thoughts alone but also have issues with objects. “Some individuals also have difficulties discarding and accumulate (hoard) objects as a consequence of typical obsessions and compulsions, such as fears of harming others” (American Psychiatric Association,

John’s treatment for his OCD disorder would consist of exposure therapy, medication, and complementary/alternative treatment. Treatments for OCD, by a medical doctor, configures a technique according to the persons’ medical diagnose as an option for treatment. “Most people who seek treatment experience significant improvement and enjoy an improved quality of life” (ADAA, 2010-2015). People who live with OCD seek medical assistance to move forward in life for a healthy well-being. Alice's treatment for her insomnia disorder would consist of exposure therapy, medication, and complementary/alternative treatment. Treatments for insomnia, by a medical doctor, configures a technique according to the persons' medical diagnose as an option for treatment.