Essay On Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder

Obsessive compulsive disorder is a disease that many people know of, but few people know about. Many people associate repeated washing of hands, or flicking of switches, and even cleanliness with Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD), however there are many more symptoms, and there are also explanations for those symptoms. In this paper, I will describe what obsessive compulsive disorder is, explain some of the effects of it, and explain why it happens. I will also attempt to prove that while medication doesn’t cure OCD, it vastly improves one’s quality of life. Furthermore I intend to show that behavior therapy (cognitive based therapy) is another useful tool in helping a person to overcome their OCD.

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.

This case conceptualization of Francis discusses the principles of the cognitive behavioral theory that are based on the belief that learning, cognitions, and perceptions play a significant role in the development and maintenance of emotional and behavioral problems. Various CBT models are applied to the diagnostic determinants of Francis’ dysfunctional behavior and the empirically supported methods of cognitive behavioral treatment of Obsessive Compulsive Disorder are used to build a treatment plan to aid in Francis’ recovery.

Cognitive behavior therapy helps patients to increase the awareness through inaccurate or intrusive thinking therefore individuals with psychological disorder can view excessive and challenging situations more openly and respond to these situations in a more effective and accurate way. Therapists try to change individuals’ thoughts in order to change their behavior towards to that specific thoughts. According to Nakao (2005), after CBT treatment, participants showed decrease activation in OFC and ACC. In 2009, Yamashini and his colleagues found the symptom improvements among participants who took CBT treatment for OCD. In clinical implication anaylsis of treatment effects, Fisher & Wells (2005) obtained recovery rates of 61% and 53% for ERP

Family therapy for treating OCD has also been found to be effective in helping one deal with their behavior. This is because OCD often raised problems in family life which can affect their social adjustment, therefore making family therapy beneficial, the sufferer and the entire family. Family therapy actively encourages understanding of the disorder thereby helping reduce family conflicts. It also motivate individual members in the family and also teaches them how to help their loved one by helping develop new skills each day(Carol, Norman & Teena,2011).

"OCD patients have a pattern of distressing and senseless thoughts or ideas- obsessions- that repeatedly well up in their minds. To quell the distressing thoughts, specific patterns of odd behaviors- compulsions- develop." (Gee & Telew, 1999)

Like anything else Behavior Therapy does have its strengths and weakness. One of it strength is the ownership the client is given, at the onset of therapy goals are established and clients are encourage to be active in the therapeutic process, by developing a plan of action. This allows the clients to have a vested interest in deciding with the goals of their therapy will be. (Corey, 2013, p. 278). Behavioral therapy is also one of the few therapies that place an emphasis on research, this has made the behavior therapy method one of the most effective in the treatment of a number of behavioral illness. Because research is consider to be a basic aspect of this approach and therapeutic techniques are continually refined (Corey, 2013, p. 277) cognitive behavioral procedures are currently the best treatment strategies available for depression, obsessive-compulsive disorder, panic disorder, social phobia and eating disorders (Corey, 2013, pp. 278-279).

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.

Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD) is considered a neuropsychiatric disorder with a lifelong predominance somewhere around 2% and 4% which happens at a 1:1 male-to-female ratio (Olbrich et al, 2013). It is portrayed by intermittent and frequently incapacitating obsessions or compulsions that are perceived by the person as absurd. Obsessions are nervous-inciting, intrusive thoughts, normally concerning contamination, question, guilt, animosity and sex. Compulsions are exceptional practices that lessen nervousness, generally hand-washing, sorting out, checking, and praying. The etiology might be connected with anomalies of serotonin metabolism and also there are confirmations of heritability (Pogarell et al, 2006).

Gabie’s treatment plan is primarily to address her OCD and MDD diagnosis. Her presenting problems of obsessive suicidal thoughts, obsessions, depressive symptoms, fatigue, lack of interest in daily activities, feelings of hopelessness, compulsive behaviors creating loss of sleep and loss of appetite will hopefully improve by addressing her OCD symptoms and depression. Gabie and clinician will identify and modify obsessive thoughts, intermediate beliefs, and core beliefs by using effective CBT techniques of educating and thoughts tracking, along with EX/RP techniques of exposing Gabie to fear invoking situations and learning response prevention for her compulsive behaviors. We will use record tracking homework and in therapy session work to

Cognitive Behavioral approach perceives obsessive compulsive disorder as an intrusive condition characterized by unwanted repetitive and anxiety-producing thoughts accompanied by the compulsive act of rituals that the individual believes will shield them from the imagined catastrophe (Hansell & Damour, 2008). Obsessions are thoughts or impulses over which the individual has no control and only briefly subside after the victim has been compelled to and completes a certain ritual over and over until the anxiety lessens (Hansell & Damour, 2008).

more cost-effective and have longer lasting effects than medication. I would explain that it is a form of short term treatment (typically 9 to 12 weeks), but has long term results. I would explain that patients who engage in Cognitive Behavioral Therapy are likely to learn new skills, some of which may last a lifetime” (O 'Connor, K. P., Aardema, F., Robillard, S., Guay, S., Pélissier, M., Todorov, C., & ... Doucet, P., 2006). This would be extremely effective for Howard, because he would learn coping skills that would help him throughout his treatment process and life. Some of which According to the text, “Cognitive theorists begin explaining OCD by pointing out that everyone has repetitive, unwanted, and intrusive thoughts” (Comer, 2013,

Everyone has experienced emotions such as anxiety, fear, and worry; they are a part of everyday life. These reactions are normal and healthy; they typically don't come too often, and when they do, they don't last very long. However, the United States Health and Human Services Department (1998) estimates there is about 3.2 million Americans that suffer from a psychological anxiety disorder called obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD). Those who suffer from this condition have frequent upsetting and unreasonable thoughts, worries, or fears. The Harvard Mental Health Letter (1998) notes that:

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

Today Cognitive behavioral Therapy has been influenced by two major therapeutic approaches: firstly, Behaviorism as developed by Skinner, Pavlov and others in the 1950s and 1960s, where the main research was related to rewards and punishments, or stimuli’ and their response. Second is Cognitive therapy which was introduced or made popular by Beck and Ellis in the 1960s. CBT by definition is a form of treatment that focuses on examining the relationships between thoughts, feelings and behaviors. By exploring the patterns of thinking that lead to negative actions and the beliefs that dictate these thoughts, families can identify and change the patterns in order to