Understanding OCD: Skills to Control the Conscience and Outsmart Obsessive Compulsive Disorder

One of the most experienced therapists in the world for treatment-resistant obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD) explains the disorder, the treatments available, and the skills needed to overcome and outsmart OCD. This is an eye-opening study of one of the most common psychiatric ailments diagnosed today—obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD). Written by Leslie J. Shapiro, a renowned therapist at one of the most well known OCD facilities in the world, this reference shares effective treatment strategies and clinical factors for helping therapists, mental health professionals, psychology students, clergy, and others deal with patients coping with this illness. The author offers case examples from her 15 years of residential work with patients, demonstrating how sufferers—even the most treatment resistant—can get control of the condition. Organized into three sections, this guidebook first reveals how OCD and guilt are intertwined and explores survival instincts, cultural factors, and the nature of thoughts. The second section covers aspects of the obsessive conscience such as scrupulosity, moralosity, and obsessive guilt. The book's conclusion describes effective exposure and response prevention strategies for these symptoms and examines methods of treatment that augment and help maintain recovery. An in-depth discussion on the differences between compulsive and impulsive behaviors—as well as other treatment impediments—is included.

Table of Contents:
Foreword by Michael A. Jenike Acknowledgments Part I: Hard-wired at Birth 1 Your Brain Has a Mind of Its Own 2 Hypersurvival: Evolutionary Survival Instincts Gone Awry—Too Much of a Necessary Thing? 3 All Walks of Life: Global Prevalence and the Universal Culture of Rituals 4 We AllHave "Bad" Thoughts 5 In Good Company: A Who's Who of Obsessive Conscience Part II: The Exploited Conscience 6 Scrupulosity: It's Not Religious 7 Moralosity: Nonreligious and Moral Perfectionistic OCD 8 Obsessive Guilt Part III: "You Want Me to DoWhat?" 9 Taking Control Where You Can and Must 10 Helpful Treatment Augmentations Part IV: Other Guiding Considerations 11 It's Impulsive, Not Compulsive 12 A Word about Countertransference Appendix A: Glossary Appendix B: Types of Guilt Found in Western Literature Appendix C: Harder Personal Feelings Questionnaire Appendix D: Rate Your OCD Appendix E: Pennsylvania Inventory of Scrupulosity Appendix F: The Loyola Religious Obsession and Compulsion Checklist Appendix G: Family Accommodation Scale for Obsessive–Compulsive Disorder Index

About the Author :
Leslie J. Shapiro is a residential-level behavior therapist for treatment resistant obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD) at the OCD Institute at McLean Hospital.

Review :
Impressively well written, exceptionally well organized, and deftly presented, Understanding OCD is very highly recommended for professional and academic library Psychology/Psychiatry instructional reference collections. The book gives insight into the role of guilt and religion in some forms of OCD and may be useful to those clinicians interested in learning more about obsessive guilt. . . . Recommended.