Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) affects one person in 40 and can cause great suffering. This volume provides the first comprehensive summary of our understanding of this enigmatic condition, summarizing current work ranging from genetics and neurobiology through cognitive psychology, treatment, personal experiences, and societal implications.

Drawing upon extensive interviews and assessments of school-age childr en who have lost a parent to death, this book offers a richly textured portrait of the mourning process in children. The volume presents maj or findings from the Harvard Child Bereavement Study and places them i n the context of previous research, shedding new light on both the wid e range of normal variation in childrens experiences of grief and the factors that put bereaved children at risk. The book also compares pa rentally bereaved children with those who have suffered loss of a sibl ing to death, or of a parent through divorce, exploring similarities a nd differences in these experiences of loss. A concluding section expl ores the clinical implications of the findings and includes a review o f intervention models and activities, as well as a screening instrumen t designed to help identify high-risk bereaved children.

Obsessive-compulsive disorder is a relatively common psychological problem, whose symptoms may include repeated checking, excessive hand-washing or other cleaning rituals, extreme slowness, or unwanted, repugnant intrusive thoughts. In some, the disorder can seriously affect everyday life. In this book, the authors have drawn on their clinical and research experience to give a lucid account of the nature of obsessive-compulsive problems. The book is intended for those who have this disorder as well as their family and friends. It will also appeal to the general readers interested in finding out about the disorder. It gives up-to-date information about the nature, symptoms, causes and theories of obsessive-compulsive disorder. The book also discusses the treatments that are available, and provides valuable practical advice to those who may need help. Numerous case histories are given throughout the book, highlighting various aspects of the disorder and its treatment.

Few syndromes in psychopathology generate as much popular curiosity and clinical exploration as does obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD). Since the 1970s, research on OCD has increased exponentially. Speci?c advances include an improved grasp of the heterogeneity of the disorder, identi?cation of putative subtyping schemes, and the development of increasingly sophisticated theoretical models of the etiology and maintenance. Perhaps most importantly, research has led to advances in treatment; andwhereasthe?rstlinetherapies(cognitive-behaviortherapyandserotonergicm- ication) are not entirely effective for every sufferer, they have transformed OCD from an unmanageable lifetime af?iction into a treatable problem that need not reduce quality of life. Despite the aforementioned advances, there have emerged a number of sharp disagreements concerning OCD. Differences have surfaced over phenomenological issues, etiological models, and approaches to treatment, and often occur (but not exclusively) along disciplinary lines between biologically oriented and cogniti- behaviorally oriented authorities. For example, medical approaches posit that abn- mal biological processes cause OCD, whereas psychosocial formulations emphasize the role of learning and dysfunctional cognitions. Yet because theoretical conjecture andempirical?ndingsfromwithineachtraditionaretypicallyaddressedtowardd- tinct and narrow audiences, clinicians, researchers, and students with broad interests are hindered from gaining a clear grasp of the diverse (and sometimes polarized) perspectives.

Although Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD) has been known since the ancient times, the exact etiology and pathogenesis of OCD unfortunately still remain unknown. In addition, the therapeutic approaches elaborated for the treatment of OCD as a whole are not perfect, and this disorder as a rule is characterized by unfavorable course and lack of full therapeutic response. In the current book some modern data on pathogenesis, phenomenology and treatment of OCD are presented. Besides, the data on co-morbidity of OCD with other neurological and psychiatric disorders are also included. This book is intended for broad circle of readers, but mostly for psychiatrists, psychologists and neurologists.

Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) is a complex set of thoughts and behaviors that can vary greatly from person to person and can be related to and complicated by a wide range of other disorders. Clinicians are confronted with the challenge of accurately classifying its many variants and developing effective, systematic treatments for them. Some believe that OCD and related problems should be treated as subtypes of one condition; others argue that OCD is composed of a spectrum of many similar conditions that should be treated individually. In this handbook, Jonathan S. Abramowitz, Dean McKay, and Steven Taylor present an approach to diagnosis and treatment that considers subtype and spectrum concepts. They examine specific presentations of OCD—the symptoms—that are often seen in practice as well as the many disorders that may fall within the OCD spectrum. For each symptom and putative spectrum condition, they discuss empirical support, theories of etiology, and treatment issues. The volume covers cognitive-behavioral and biological factors, as well as the latest approaches to psychological and pharmacologic therapy, including complicating factors in treatment. In concluding chapters, the authors critically address the current literature on proposed subtype and spectrum disorders, consider the clinical implications of the literature, and map out a comprehensive, integrated approach for understanding OCD and related conditions. The only work on OCD that covers treatment options for specific symptoms and the full spectrum of related disorders, this handbook is a must-have for clinicians who are dedicated to improving the lives of patients with these challenging mental conditions.

"Early intervention helps kids who need treatment," clarifies a headline in USA TODAY, the Nation's No. 1 Newspaper, in an article about obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD). This neurobehavioral disorder affects millions of people, who display ritual behaviors that they can't stop doing, such as washing their hands repeatedly, pulling their hair, or worrying obsessively about small things. Many people with OCD realize their behavior doesn't make sense, but they or their families may not know how or who to ask for help. In this book, you'll read case studies of people with OCD and learn about how they received help to manage their disorder through medications and cognitive-behavioral therapy. You'll also find basic information about symptoms, diagnosis, treatment, and support to help you understand how you, your friends, and your family can manage this disorder.

Recent advances in the diagnosis and treatment of obsessive- compulsive disorder have come from breakthroughs in neurobiologic and cognitive-behavioral studies. Essential Papers on Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder represents the most significant thinkers and the various strands of thought on obsessive-compulsive disorder. Divided into three sections focusing on classical psychoanalysis, psychological research, and neuro-psychiatric approaches, this definitive volume includes contributions bythe most experienced and renowned experts on the subject. Contributors include Sigmund Freud; Karl Abraham; Ernest Jones; Anna Freud; Paul E. Sifneos; Leonard Salzman; Joseph Sandler and Anandi Hazari; Lewis L. Judd; Heinz Hartmann; Stanley Rachman, Ray Hodgson and Isaac M. Marks; Paul M. Salkovskis; Paul Schilder; Steven P. Wise and Judith L. Rapoport; Joseph Zohar and Thomas R. Insel; Michael A. Jenike; Susan E. Swedo, Henrietta Leonard; Lewis R. Baxter, Jeffrey M. Schwartz, Kenneth S. Bergman; Dan Stein and Eric Hollander.

Obsessive-compulsive disorder is probably the psychiatric disorder for which most significant progress has been made on the last 20 years concerning pharmacologic and psychotherapeutic interventions. A number of studies have shown that OCD is much more prevalent than previously thought, occurring in an estimated 2% of the adult population around the world. A serious discrepancy still exists between research evidence and clinical practice and an update of this evidence and an international debate on it, as provided by this volume, is long overdue. This revised edition provides vital information on a considerably underdiagnosed condition. * Provides accompanying commentaries by an outstanding line up of contributors * Covers developments in diagnosis, therapy, prognosis, economic evaluation and quality improvement * Provides an unbiased and reliable reference point