A comprehensive and helpful guide explains what parts of the brain are responsible for causing obsessive compulsive disorders, what sufferers can do to stop it, and what family members can do to help. List examples and cases studies. A good tool for OCD sufferers to use in understanding and explaining to others how OCD works.

A complex illness that is often difficult to identify, OCD affects approximately 6 million to 9 million Americans. In Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder Demystified, clinical psychologist and OCD specialist Cheryl Carmin offers an enlightening and useful guide for anyone with OCD, their families, and friends. In clear and compassionate language, Dr. Carmin helps those who suffer from the illness understand the true nature of OCD, the factors that complicate its diagnosis, and the benefits of treatment through cognitive behavior therapy and/or medication. With insight and anecdotes from an OCD patient-advocate, Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder Demystified makes great strides in dispelling the mystery surrounding this condition, helping readers decide if it's time to seek treatment and providing those with this anxiety disorder the information they need to better manage their lives.

Defines this complex illness in clear terms, examines its nature, discusses the factors involved in getting properly diagnosed, and highlights the treatment and therapies available today that are most beneficial for those living with OCD. 15,000 first printing. Original.

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

"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.

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.

First published in 2002. Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) and Tourette's syndrome (TS) are treated together in this volume because symptoms of each often co-occur and because there are substantial overlaps in genetic risks and possibly in the neurobiology underlying these disorders.

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.

When you have obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), it can feel like your own mind is at war with itself. Instead of having productive and positive thoughts, you rehash the same worries and fears over and over again until they become unbearable. Did you really remember to lock the front door? What if you were to hit someone while driving your car? You may find yourself engaging in exhaustive rituals to keep these thoughts at bay. But soon, the doubts come back with a vengeance. Coping with OCD offers a simple and engaging program that can help anyone with mild to moderate OCD get started on the road to recovery. This book begins with a crash course on what OCD is-and what it is not. You'll learn a proven, three-part program for recovery that uses safe and gradual exposure to distressing thoughts and situations, mindfulness practice, and techniques to restructure thinking. Additional chapters address how families can help, dealing with shame and blame, depression, and maintaining progress. The book also includes a helpful list of resources for further reading and additional support.