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 DisorderBy Meg Gooding

2. An introduction to OCDOCD 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 ApproachSigmund Freud attributed OCD to a child’s deep frustration or negative experience with potty training.

4. Psychoanalytic ApproachIt is said that obsessions arise when the individual is trying to counteract impulses with defense mechanisms:Isolation

5. Undoing

6. Reaction formationTrait ApproachTherapists are able to understand a client’s consistent behavior (or trait) in specific situations, and properly be able to address these consistent situations with a client.

7. Trait ApproachIn 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 ApproachThere 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 ApproachMuch 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 ApproachGradually over time the individual gains more self-esteem about confronting these situations, reducing their state of anxiety.

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

12. Cognitive ApproachAn individual with OCD processes information that becomes distortedThe dysfunctional beliefs of these individuals leads them to avoid situations and places.