Abstract In this article, the writer looks at the obsessive-compulsive disorder. The paper also discusses the treatments that are currently available to deal with this disorder. Other questions addressed include when and how OCD was recognized as a mental disorder and how OCD affects the neurological and physical capabilities of patients who are diagnosed with the disorder. The writer points out that while OCD can interfere with normal functioning and make life extremely difficult for the patient, there is no cure for the disorder, but treatment does result in control of symptoms.
From the Paper "All people need routine, rituals and habits in order to organize their daily lives. For example, organization and arrangement of belongings and supplies is essential both at home and at work. People who have obsessive-compulsive disorder, however, are often so concerned with order and ritual that these activities require a great deal of time and become a real problem in their daily lives. Basically, obsessive-compulsive disorder is disorder that "causes a person's thoughts to repeat. These repeating thoughts, called obsessions, lead a person with OCD to perform certain tasks over and over in an effort to make the obsessions go away"."
Abstract This paper examines Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD) in adults and children. The paper begins with a discussion of the etiology and prevalence of the disease. Next the paper reviews co-morbid diseases. The paper then focuses on the symptoms and treatment of OCD, with special emphasis on the role of the nurse as therapist and educator.
Abstract This paper studies obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD) in children. The paper begins by discussing the lack of a precise known cause of OCD. Next the paper looks at treatment of a psychiatric condition that may be both neurobiological and psychological. The paper also examines the debilitating impact of this anxiety disorder and some solutions.
From the Paper "Obsessive-compulsive disorder OCD is a complicated and still puzzling psychiatric disorder that has been called one of the most debilitating of the anxiety disorders. Recent studies suggest that approximately..."
Abstract This paper provides an analysis of the obsessive-compulsive disorder and cognitive behavior displayed by the main character Melvin Udall (played by Jack Nicholson) in the movie 'As Good As It Gets.' The paper includes quotations from the movie and actual examples of the behavior displayed by Melvin that constitute OCD.
From the Paper "The character Melvin Udall (played by Jack Nicholson) in the movie As Good As It Gets displays symptoms of obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) and cognitive distortions. Melvin is a writer whose meticulous, routine-drenched yet quirky world suddenly turns upside down when his gay neighbor, Simon Bishop (played by Greg Kinnear), gets beaten up and has to go to the hospital, leaving his pet dog, Verdell, in Melvin's care. What further complicates Melvin's life is that the only waitress in his favorite cafe who can put up with him, Carolll Connelly (played by Helen Hunt), has to quit work to take care of her sick son."
Abstract This paper explains that compulsive spenders have the compulsion and drive to spend, unique feelings about shopping, a tendency to spend, experienced dysfunctional spending and post-purchase guilt. The author points out that, when the comparison shopper feels 'the thrill of the hunt and the glory in the kill' of finding a lower price for something that has high value to others, there is a danger that a compulsive bargain hunter can become addicted to this activity. The paper concludes that, although compulsive spending is beginning to be accepted as a defined psychological illness, there is little help for the person with this behavior other than a strong desire to seek counseling or self-treatment.
Table of Contents:
Introduction
Who Is the Compulsive Spender?
Profile
Age
Personality
Gender
Compulsive Spending Behavior as Part of Pathological Illness
Bipolar Disorder
How Bipolar Disorder Affects Lives
Treatment
Compulsive Spending Behavior as an Addiction
The Effect of Addiction
Shopping and Window Shopping as a Distraction
Effects of Addiction
The Act of Shopping
The Owning of Objects
Bargain Hunting
Binge Shopping
Codependent Spending
Bulimic Spending
Compulsive Spending As a Symptom
The Financial Aspect of Compulsive Spending
Financial Recognition of Compulsive Spending
Types and Treatments
Denial as an Aspect of Addiction
Treatments for Compulsive Spending Behavior
Professional Counseling
Self-Help
Discipline
From the Paper "When a person is insecure about their self-image, they may seek to enhance or extend their self-image in their own and others' eyes. In so doing, they overspend. The compulsive spender then feels guilt and shame over spending too much and finding him or herself in debt. As a result, he or she may become secretive about the problem. In order to overcome the negative, inadequate feelings created by the addiction, he or she indulges again, lying to cover up how much was spent, throwing away price tags and receipts, doing financial juggling with checkbooks and savings, borrowing from other people and borrowing from one line of credit to pay another, "maxing out" their credit cards and doing anything to get money to cover up their addiction. "
This paper discusses Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD), a brain-based psychological disorder characterized by uncontrollable obsessions to perform repeatedly behavioral rituals.
Abstract This paper discusses that Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD) must be distinguished from Obsessive Compulsive Personality Disorder (OCPD), which is a completely different psychiatric disorder. Despite some similarity between the irrational themes underlying each disorder, OCPD patients do not typically perform compulsive rituals; rather, they tend to become preoccupied with perfectionism or with ordered regularity or rules. The author points out that Behavioral Modification Therapy is unsuccessful by itself, but it is often combined with Cognitive Therapy, in which the therapist discusses the irrationality of the specific fears underlying the patient's fears and compulsions. The paper states that the first goal of pharmacological treatment of OCD is to maintain a sufficient level of serotonin in the brain to eliminate OCD symptoms.
Table of Contents
Introduction
Symptoms
Treatment
Prognosis
From the Paper "The first line of medications used in conjunction with treatment of OCD is anti-anxiety medications or mild sedatives to counteract the increased anxiety that is often brought on by behavioral and cognitive psychotherapeutic approaches. If the patient is unresponsive (or not satisfactorily responsive) to a combination of behavioral and cognitive therapy, the next approach is usually the prescription of a Seratonin Reuptake Inhibitor. Seratonin Reuptake Inhibitors are classified either as Seratonin Reuptake Inhibitors (SRI) or Selective Seratonin Reuptake Inhibitors (SSRI). As their names imply, both SRI's and SSRI's block the reuptake (or absorption) of the neurotransmitter seratonin to address seratonin insufficiency in the brains of patients exhibiting OCD symptoms. SSRI's are usually employed first because they affect only seratonin; whereas, SRI's also impinge upon other neurotransmitters that are unrelated to OCD symptoms. Consequently, SRI's are more likely to result in coincidental unwanted side effects, such as weight gain, tiredness, dizziness, as well as blood pressure changes and even cardiac irregularities."
Tags: cognitive, modification, drugs, seratonin, control
Abstract This paper discusses how addictive disorders are characterized by recurrent failure to control a behavior, increased tension prior to a behavior, and pleasure while experiencing a behavior. In particular, it looks at compulsive spending behavior and how spending addicts use money like a drug.
Outline:
Who Is the Compulsive Spender?
Profile of the Compulsive Spender
Age
Personality
Gender
Race as a Factor
Compulsive Spending Behavior as Part of Pathological Illness
Bipolar Disorder
From the Paper "The person who uses money as a drug is an addict. This person utilizes money as a ticket to getting on the fast train or the merry-go-round of a dream life. This person has no concept of bartering. This person uses money like the heroin addict uses a needle. It brings the high, but in itself, is worth nothing. To the compulsive overspender, money is considered worthless. It is a means to an end and is held in such low esteem that it is literally thrown away. Once the person wakes up in the morning and realizes what they have done and that they will have to pay in terms of time, anxiety, work and years of poverty, they may come to value the reality of what money is a little more. But the habit has set in and the next time the addict wishes to find a "high," overspending will occur again."
A paper which overviews compulsive gambling, gives examples of addictive gamblers behavioral patterns and finally lists common and extreme treatments for compulsive gamblers.
Abstract This paper begins by describing addictive gambling and what causes it. It then cites various examples of compulsive gamblers and the devastation that they have experienced as a result of their adiction. It explains their behavioral problems and patterns. Finally the paper lists resources such a Gamblers Anonymous and other treatments available for compulsive gambling.
From the Paper "Many people today suffer from a variety of addictions. The first assumption commonly related with addiction is substance abuse, addiction to a drug or alcohol. While drug and alcohol abuse are serious issues that people battle with everyday, there is an emerging addiction that is similar to substance abuse with effects that are just as devastating. Addiction to gambling is a serious problem that is plaguing our country slowly and unnoticeably. Not only is gambling addicting for some people, it can have devastating effects on the addict and the addict's family. Evidence supports the probability that many people are not aware of the increase of gambling addicts in society and furthermore are unaware of the effects of problem gambling. However, after studies of problem gamblers involving what drives a gambling addict, there are resources to help cure addictive gamblers."
Tags: Pathological, legalized, lottery, Atlantic, City, casino, alcoholism
Abstract This paper explores what psychologists call compulsive sexual behavior. Although this disorder is classified in the DSM-IV (Diagnostic and Statistical Manual for Mental Disorders), therapists and researchers question whether moral judgments may influence a diagnosis. The paper further describes the major categories of compulsive sexual behavior. Finally, the paper concludes that there is disagreement as to whether CSB is an addiction, a psychosexual developmental disorder, an impulse control disorder, a mood disorder, or an obsessive-compulsive disorder.
From the Paper "According to Vukadinovic, literature on sexual compulsivity and sexual addiction has been preoccupied with issues of definition, especially as it pertains to DSM-IV (Vukadinovic). Moreover, there has been little attention given to the possible causal explanations for why, in some cases, sexual behavior become problematic (Vukadinovic). Most researchers make statements about likely mechanisms, such as anxiety reduction or mood regulation, however there are usually based on clinical impression rather than on reported data (Vukadinovic).
Researchers are now giving more attention to the fact that out of control sexual behavior can be reduced with mood elevating drugs such as the SSRIs, but as yet, no one knows the extent to which such pharmacological benefits, when they occur, result from improvement in mood or specific inhibition of sexual repsonse or both (Vukadinovic)."
A critique of the film "What About Bob?" by Frank Oz and book
"Obsessive Compulsive Disorder: The Latest Assessment and Treatment Strategies" by Gail Steketee.
Abstract This paper presents a critique of a film, What About Bob", and a book, "Obsessive Compulsive Disorder: The latest Assessmentand Treatment Strategies, which are both about obsessive compulsive disorder. The paper explains that the author learned from the film that the sociopathic, interpersonal behaviors, which the character of Bob in the film exhibits, are some of the symptoms of obsessive compulsive disorders (OCD). The paper then relates that a major area of contention in the book is the use of medications to help resolve the common symptoms of OCD. The author stresses that Steketee provides a great deal of insight about behavioral therapy, which provides far more solutions to OCD than the medicinal and surgical treatments often found in other studies done for patient treatment.
From the Paper "Some of the others question about Steketee's reliance on behavioral therapy for treatment is the Appendix where she describes many of the findings of clinical studies that provide information about behavioral therapy. Certainly, the success rates of behavioral therapy need to be addressed far more often than the heavily sponsored pharmaceutical studies being done due to their massive financial resources. Steketee provides the foundation for behavioral studies that give her the premise of providing more behavioral solutions for patients that are suffering from this disorder."
Abstract This paper looks at obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), a psychological disorder that causes the same stressful or alarming and worrisome thoughts to occur over and over, obsessively, in the mind of the person with the disorder.
Outline
What is Obsessive Compulsive Disorder?
What is OCD Like?
How does One Get OCD?
How is OCD Diagnosed?
How is OCD Treated?
From the Paper "Children tend to show specific patterns. They may avoid sharp things out of a concern regarding injuring self or others. OCD often makes a child appear to dawdle when the child is actually repeatedly checking or counting something. They may appear to daydream when they?re actually stuck in an obsessive thought. If they have hand-washing rituals, they may spend extended amounts of time in the bathroom. Repeated checking and insistence on a stylized perception of perfection can cause late schoolwork. There may be signs of many erasures on papers. It may be hard to spot these things, because people with OCD often work hard to hide their traits so no one will try to make them give them up (Gale Ency., 2001)."
Abstract This study examines the extent to which there exists a relationship between male adolescent anorexics and a disordered thinking symptom (panic), namely obsessive-compulsivity. The paper also attempts to establish possible correlations between obsessive-compulsiveness and the socio-economic class, grade level, birth order, and family status (divorce vs. intact) of male adolescent anorexics.
Table of Contents:
Introduction and Literature Review
Research Purpose, Question and Hypothesis
Definition of Terms
Research Methodology
Participants
Measurement Instrument
Procedure and Analysis
Summary
From the Paper "Some of the more frequent symptoms exhibited by the male population include social isolationism, perfectionism, rigid cognitive style, and obsessive-compulsiveness of the panic disorder type in terms of an expressed fear of gaining weight over muscle growth (Fisher, et al, 1995). Although the general lack of a slimness value on male adolescents puts them at a somewhat lower risk the phenomenon is increasing in frequency wherein the muscular body type is seen as an advantage to gaining a competitive edge, albeit in sports, social relations, or an ideal male image. In a situation wherein a male adolescent finds himself looking for independence and acceptance, loosing weight seems to be a solution."
Abstract This paper discusses abnormal psychology and personality disorders in general and obsessive-compulsive disorder in particular, with a full case study of a woman diagnosed with this complaint. It details all the related symptoms and their manifestation concluding with suitable available treatments.
Outline:
Introduction
Case Study Particulars
The Prevalence and Characteristics of Anxiety Disorders
Obsessive Compulsive Disorder
The Physiological basis of anxiety disorders
Diagnostic Alternatives
Treatment Strategies
Conclusion
From the Paper "According to Martin Kantor, abnormal psychology concerns "the study of mental disorders and maladaptive behavior, including neuroses and psychoses, and of normal phenomena that are not completely understood, such as dreams and altered states of consciousness" (1992). As a branch of the study of abnormal psychology, a personality disorder "is a non-psychotic mental illness characterized by enduring patterns of perceiving, relating to, and thinking about oneself and the environment in ways that are maladaptive, being those that go against normal adaptive processes" (McNeil, 1970). Thus, an individual affected with a personality disorder often utilizes inflexible behavior patterns in order to fulfill his/her own personal needs and attain self-satisfaction, often at the expense of others and society. These traits mainly result in severe functional impairment and/or subjective distress, usually imagined or brought on by a particular illness.
"Having a personality disorder means that the affected individual is not the kind of person who can adapt smoothly to the normal routines of everyday life. Instead, the person expects the world and those in his orbit to change rather than being able to adjust to the requirements of different situations and relationships. In essence, the affected person behaves in a rigid and inflexible way that perpetuates vicious cycles and fulfills his/her worst prophecies".
Abstract In this article, the writer researches and examines childhood sexual abuse and compulsive hoarding. This work identifies the social impediments to the treatment interventions of this population with traumagenic compulsions. Further, the writer analyzes how cognitive behavioral therapy would overcome these impediments and provide treatment for this disorder.The writer concludes that effective treatments are stated to be behavioral therapy, cognitive therapy, pharmacological therapy or a combination. The writer maintains that behavioral therapy is more effective in the cases that are lesser in severity and complexity.
Outline:
Objective:
Terms and Definitions
Literature Review
Summary and Conclusion
From the Paper "Psychopharmacological treatment is often combined with behavioral therapy in severe or complex symptomatology in cases of OCD. Both psychological and pharmacological interventions have been found to be effective in research studies. The most effective form of treatment for the less severe types of OCD has been found to be behavioral therapy. While drug therapy is effective in the severe and complex cases of OCD, it does take time for effectiveness of the drug to take hold. In conclusion, Beamish and Hill state ... "
Abstract This paper deals with the nursing aspects of working in an outpatient capacity with young patients suffering from various levels of Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder. It analyzes the literature on OCD treatment from a number of perspectives and from the relatively benign, such as fear of flying, to life-threatening, such as anorexia.
Outline:
Introduction
Literature Review
Cognitive-Behavior Therapy, Sertraline, and Their Combination for Children and Adolescents With Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder
A Narrative Approach to Body Dysmorphic Disorder
Self-Injurious Behavior: A Bi-Modal Treatment Approach to Working with Adolescent Females
Measurement of Nonclinical Personality Characteristics of Women with Anorexia Nervosa or Bulimia Nervosa
Conclusion
From the Paper "SSRI's have helped to transform OCD treatment for many with mild- to moderate OCD syndromes. This metastudy looked at the literature which pertains to pediatric and adolescent sufferers of OCD, which is a helpful expansion from earlier clinical work done on SSRI's with adults. The meta-study looked exclusively at well-conducted clinical trials, which were randomized, double-blinded, limited to patients 19 or under, and had a placebo or other sort of control. The study does not indicate whether all patients were analyzed on a prospective rather than a retrospective basis, which would be an additional claim of objectivity.
In all, the meta-study included 12 studies with 1,044 participants, an average of 87 patients per study. Given that four SSRI's were evaluated, it is difficult to draw statistically-significant conclusions from these studies--many were simply underpowered, with some n's as low as 21, 7 and 11. This meta-study calculated a "fail-safe N," a number below which negative data would disprove the conclusions; this author would argue that the total number of participants was too close to the fail-safe N to be able to draw statistically valid conclusions."
