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Intrusive thoughts in clinical disorders: theory, research, and treatment
- Editors:
- CLARK David A., (ed.)
- Publisher:
- Guilford
- Publication year:
- 2004
- Pagination:
- 255p.
- Place of publication:
- New York
Obsessive compulsive disorder is contrasted but may be comorbid with schizophrenia. The chapters in this book devoted to obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), depression, insomnia, and anxiety give cognitive explanations for these disorders and use central constructs such as appraisal, metacognition, and thought suppression. Appraisal is the process by which an individual assigns a negative meaning to a particular intrusive thought. Metacognition is the phenomenon of thinking about and explaining one's own thoughts. Thought suppression is a cognitive process by which an individual tries to shut out intrusive thoughts, which most often leads to a counterproductive increase in distressing thoughts. For example, as the book explains, OCD may involve an intrusive thought about homicide that becomes appraised by an individual to signify that he or she is immoral and needs to suppress such thoughts. These constructs are valuable to mental health professionals who treat individuals with these disorders, and they constitute a useful framework for understanding current cognitive therapies. Cognitive theories in psychotic disorders and in sexual disorders are also presented in the book. Therapists will welcome new approaches to working with psychotic individuals, although it is not clear that the book fully acknowledges the complexities of psychotherapy with this population. Cognitive-behavioural therapy has become a treatment modality for patients with paraphilic disorders who commit sex offenses. The book reflects the importance of treating factors that may lead to relapse. However, the complexity and heterogeneity of sexual disorders merits more space than the book devotes to this area.