Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD) is an anxiety disorder that affects 1-3% of the population equally among males and females. Sigmund Freud believed that OCD stemmed from issues with potty training as a child. Therapists now use various approaches including trait, biological, humanistic, behavioral, cognitive, and exposure response prevention to understand and treat OCD. Treatment focuses on helping clients gain self-esteem and reduce anxiety when confronting obsessive thoughts and compulsions.

1. Obsessive Compulsive Disorder By Meg Gooding

2. An introduction to OCD OCD 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.

3. Psychoanalytic Approach Sigmund Freud attributed OCD to a child’s deep frustration or negative experience with potty training.

5. Undoing

7. Trait Approach In 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.

8. Biological Approach There 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)

9. Humanistic Approach Much 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.

10. Humanistic Approach Gradually over time the individual gains more self-esteem about confronting these situations, reducing their state of anxiety.

11. Behavioral & Social Learning Approach Observational learning or ‘learned behavior’ can influence the individual to develop feelings or behaviors toward situations or events.

12. Cognitive Approach An individual with OCD processes information that becomes distorted The dysfunctional beliefs of these individuals leads them to avoid situations and places.

13. References Aldea, M., Rahman, O., & Storch, E. (2009). The Psychometric Properties of the Florida Obsessive Compulsive Inventory: Examination in a Non-Clinical Sample. Individual Differences Research, 7(4), 228-238. Retrieved from Academic Search Complete database 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., WiHoon, 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.