Obsessive Compulsive Disorder

By Meg Gooding

An introduction to OCDOCD is an anxiety disorder that

1-3% of the general population suffer from.

There is an equal distribution of males and females that suffer from OCD.

Psychoanalytic ApproachSigmund Freud attributed OCD to

a child’s deep frustration or negative experience with potty training.

Psychoanalytic ApproachIt is said that obsessions arise

when the individual is trying to counteract impulses with defense mechanisms:

Isolation Undoing Reaction formation

Trait ApproachTherapists are able

to understand a client’s consistent behavior (or trait) in specific situations, and properly be able to address these consistent situations with a client.

Trait ApproachIn the matter of OCD, if a therapist

is able to evaluate which traits are susceptible in triggering compulsive behavior in a client, relapse prevention methods would be easier to outline.

Biological ApproachThere is a consistent

correlation between parents/relatives that have been diagnosed with OCD, and their children/family members being diagnosed with OCD. The most common being between mother & daughter. (Taberner, 2009)

Humanistic ApproachMuch of what

therapists use in the treatment of OCD is Exposure Response Prevention, and helps the client to gain the ability to over come the anxiety when faced with the compulsion to their obsession.

Humanistic ApproachGradually over time the

individual gains more self-esteem about confronting these situations, reducing their state of anxiety.

Behavioral & Social Learning Approach

Observational learning or ‘learned behavior’ can influence the individual to develop feelings or behaviors toward situations or events.

Cognitive Approach

An individual with OCD processes information that becomes distorted

The dysfunctional

beliefs of these individuals leads them to avoid situations and places.

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Association, American Psychiatric. Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders DSM-IV-TR Fourth Edition (Text Revision). Arlington, VA: American Psychiatric Publishing, 2000. Print.

Bagadia, A., & Drummond, L. (2009). OBSESSIVE-COMPULSIVE DISORDER. Foundation Years Journal, 3(7), 9-14. Retrieved from Academic Search Complete database.

Burger, J. Personality (8th Ed.). Belmont, CA. Wasworth, Cengage Learning, (2011). Comer, R. (2008) Fundamentals of Abnormal Psychology (5th Ed.), New York, NY.: Worth Publishers. Geumsook, S., Wi Hoon, J., Jung-Seok, C., Myung Hun, J., Joon Hwan, J., Ji-Young, P., et al. (2009).

Reduced cortical folding of the anterior cingulate cortex in obsessive--compulsive disorder. Journal of Psychiatry & Neuroscience, 34(6), 443-449. Retrieved from Academic Search Complete database.

Janowitz, D., Grabe, H., Ruhrmann, S., Ettelt, S., Buhtz, F., Hochrein, A., et al. (2009). Early onset of obsessive–compulsive disorder and associated comorbidity. Depression & Anxiety (1091-4269), 26(11), 1012-1017. doi:10.1002/da.20597.

Podea, D., Suciu, R., Suciu, C., & Ardelean, M. (2009). AN UPDATE ON THE COGNITIVE BEHAVIOR THERAPY OF OBSESSIVE COMPULSIVE DISORDER IN ADULTS. Journal of Cognitive & Behavioral Psychotherapies, 9(2), 221-233. Retrieved from Academic Search Complete database.

Simpson, D. (2009). Adolescents with OCD: An Integration of the Transtheoretical Model with Exposure and Response Prevention. Best Practice in Mental Health: An International Journal, 5(2), 14-28. Retrieved from Academic Search Complete database.

Starcevic, V., & Brakoulias, V. (2008). Symptom subtypes of obsessive-compulsive disorder: are they relevant for treatment?. Australian & New Zealand Journal of Psychiatry, 42(8), 651-661. doi:10.1080/00048670802203442.

Taberner, J., Fullana, M., Caseras, X., Pertusa, A., Bados, A., Van den Bree, M., et al. (2009). Are obsessive–compulsive symptom dimensions familial in nonclinical individuals?. Depression & Anxiety (1091-4269), 26(10), 902-908. doi:10.1002/da.20606.