Compulsive Disorder Case Study

Obsessive compulsive disorder commonly (OCD) can be defined as an anxiety disorder differentiated by acts of compulsiveness or continual thoughts of obsession. Persistent thoughts, images, and desires are characteristics of obsessions. These thoughts, images, and desires are not typically willed into one’s mind as they are often senseless, illogical, aggressive, taboo, etc. Compulsive acts are unrealistic and repetitive behaviors. The fear of contamination with germs, dirt, or grease is the most common obsession, which leads to thoroughgoing or compulsive cleansing rituals. Religion, sex,

London will be treated using the Cognitive Behavioral approach as it is recommended for children by the American Academy of Child & Adolescent Psychiatry (Freeman et al., 2007). Heavy emphasis will be placed on the inclusion of London’s mother and grandmother in and out of therapy sessions. Over the course of treatment, London will engage in relaxation techniques, rational emotive therapy, and exposure and ritual prevention therapy.

Obsessive-compulsive disorder is a mental disorder which it symptoms are having routines, or thoughts repeatedly with no ability to avoid the fear and stop them. Some people are aware of those habits, and they realize that those rituals do not make sense, but there is no an easy way to get out of them. Counting all the clothes, shoes, magazines and lie in in a straight line are illustrations when obsessive-compulsive symptoms arrive.

Sonya is likely experiencing obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD). It is the disorder that exhibits recurrent obsessions and/or compulsions (Nevid pg. 189). Obsessions are recurrent and intrusive thoughts (189). In this case study,Sonya admitted that she was a lifelong worrier. She also states that she repeatedly in a state of anxiousness or worriness (frets) about her family’s health, her future, and finances ( 189). Compulsions are repetitive behaviors that the person feels compelled to perform ( 189). Sonya has exhibit some compulsions in her perfectionistic tendencies. In Sonya childhood, she reviewed her homework assignments multiple times for “careless mistakes”. She even stated that she spent three times as long on homework than other children. In high school, she was very preoccupied in her appearance. She would iron her clothes the night before class. The next morning, she would check for wrinkles. If she find a wrinkle, she would iron her clothes again. Perfectionist’s beliefs involves exaggerating the consequences of submitting less than perfect work. They might feel compelled to redo their works until every detail is flawless (190). For example, Sonya states that

Household chores like doing the dishes or laundry provide reassurance, and the energy expended should help their typically restless sleep.

Current diagnostic criteria for SaraBeth’s disorders is better explained by criterion A – D in Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD) and criterion A – E in Anxiety Disorder due to another medical condition. OCD criteria A requires that the individual have the presence of obsession and/or compulsions. SaraBeth reports obsessions of recurrent and persistent thoughts about harm coming to her parents and although she had attempted to ignore these thoughts she continues with performing her compulsions. SaraBeth’s compulsions are evident by reported repetitive behaviors of performing ritual prayers, persistent checking on the iron and stove and although SaraBeth can admit that her fear is unrealistic, she continues the compulsions in order to feel better or to relieve oneself. Criteria B requires that the obsessions and/or compulsions be time-consuming (more than one hour) or cause clinically significant distress or impairments in important areas of function. SaraBeth has stated that can spend three to four hours during the day engaged in checking behaviors. Criteria C entails that the obsessions-compulsive symptoms are not attributable to the physiological effects of a substance or another medical condition. SaraBeth currently has no indication of a medical condition or substance use prior to the first onset of her obsessive-compulsive symptoms. Criteria D requires that the disturbance not better explained by the symptoms of another medical condition. Currently there is no evidence

Imagine feeling like a slave in your own body. Being forced to do ridiculous rituals and having constant compulsions to do things that you know don’t make sense. This is what it is like to live with Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD). In the United States alone, over 2 million people suffer from OCD (Parks, 2011) but no one has found the cause of this disorder. It affects people of all races, genders and socioeconomic backgrounds (Parks, 2011). Since it’s discovery and modern conceptualization, there has been an ongoing debate whether OCD is caused by environmental factors or if it is inherited through genetics. However, since both sides of the debate raise a solid argument and there is not enough hard evidence, the source of the disorder

People with Obsessive Compulsive Disorder suffer from a wide variety of obsessions but, most people follow similar symptoms. Their symptoms included an obsessive continual thoughts that keeps recurring causing the person anxiety. People with OCD feel that they have not control of the obsession and compulsions. Then the compulsive act come into play to help ease the anxiety temporarily. Some common obsessions fearing germs, constantly checking locked doors and

I have always been fascinated with behavioral disorders, especially OCD. I learned about OCD a few years ago when I was reading a medical journal. At first, it seemed like something very odd. The idea that otherwise normal people can do such strange things, and not be able to control themselves was fascinating. I wanted to know more about this topic, which is why I chose to write my paper on it. I thought that by knowing more about the subject, I will be able to better understand how these people’s lives can be literally taken over by their constant worries and anxiety. Also, I think a lot of people exhibit these behaviors and aren’t even aware that they may have a severe problem, and more importantly, that they can be getting help to

Darcy’s first recollection of having obsessions occurs when her grandmother died this was also shortly before her father relocated the family to a big city where the compulsions began. Her grandmother’s death is a very plausible cause to her OCD because it made her feel lonely and full of grief which carried over to her adjustment into a completely new and different environment. The emotions of grief and loneliness could’ve caused her obsessions to develop as a result of her new fears of experiencing more grief and loneliness. These new obsessions eventually led to compulsions to prevent her fears from ever coming true. This can be seen in the idea that her obsessions focus on not doing anything socially unacceptable. It is very common that a tragic event in one’s death can lead to the result of obsessions. In order to treat Darcy’s case of OCD, I would recommend addressing the issue of her grandmother’s death with Darcy in order to help her cope and come to acceptance. I would recommend this because it is clear that her grandmother’s death had a huge impact on her life and was something that she was never able to properly address which the relocation of her family can be partially blamed for. After Darcy had come to terms with grandmother’s death, I would then recommend exposure therapy paired with cognitive behavioral therapy. Many studies pertaining to OCD have shown that the pairing of exposure therapy with CBT is very effective with the treatment of obsessive compulsive disorder. I believe that the same results would be produced in this case if it was use. In this case, exposure therapy would be used to expose Darcy to death and to show her that it is inevitable rather than the result of something that Darcy did wrong. After being exposed to this concept, it is then crucial to use CBT to change Darcy’s misconceptions

Obsessive-compulsive disorder, or OCD, involves anxious thoughts or rituals one feels and can't control. . For many years, OCD was thought to be rare. The actual number of people with OCD was hidden, because people would hide their problem to avoid embarrassment. Some recent studies show that as many as 3 million Americans ages 18 to 54 may have OCD at any one time. This is about 2.3% of the people in this age group. It strikes men and women in approximately equal numbers and usually first appears in childhood, adolescence, or early adulthood. One-third of adults with OCD report having experienced their first symptoms as children. The course of the disease is variable. Symptoms may come

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 an anxiety disorder. People who have this disorder have repetitive thoughts and behaviors that they cannot control. A chemical imbalance of the neurotransmitter serotonin throws off communication in the brain. According to the American Academy of Family Physicians (2015), it can also cause impulses that manifest through obsessions, ideas, and images. The next part of this disorder is compulsions. These are the behaviors that people who have this disorder perform in order to get rid of the uncontrollable thoughts and feelings.

Knowing what OCD is the first step in understanding the psychology of the disorder. According to the National Institute of Mental Health, “Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder is a common, chronic and long-lasting disorder in which a person has uncontrollable, reoccurring thoughts (obsessions) and behaviors (compulsions) that he or she feels the urge to repeat over and over” (NIMH). The obsessive part of OCD is intrusive, repetitive thoughts the cause anxiety, and the compulsion part is the need to perform an act or ritual repeatedly. The obsession causes anxiety and the compulsion relieves the anxiety.

This case study was particularly fascinating in following the life of Karen Rusa and her obsessive compulsion disorder. It is interesting to study her childhood, present life, on-set symptoms she was experiencing, and the treatment she underwent. Though Karen withstood various trials that her OCD and depression effected greatly, I believe she received the best treatment to help her recover.