Search results for ‘Subject term:"obsessive compulsive disorders"’ Sort:
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“He's a good-looking chap aint he?”: narrative and visualisations of self in body dysmorphic disorder
- Authors:
- SILVER Joanna, REAVEY Paula
- Journal article citation:
- Social Science and Medicine, 70(10), May 2010, pp.1641-1647.
- Publisher:
- Elsevier
Body Dysmorphic Disorder (BDD) is a mental health condition characterised by a distressing preoccupation with an imaginary or minor defect in either a facial feature or a specific part of the body. The link between such excessive preoccupation and perceptions of self throughout the life course has rarely been examined. This study examined narrative accounts of the self across different life-time periods. Participants included 11 individuals (7 male, 4 female) diagnosed with BDD that were recruited from the National Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD) clinic and a BDD self-help group, in England. In the context of a semi-structured interview the participants presented photographs of themselves across a variety of time periods and drew a self-portrait to prompt memory and generate discussion. Interviews were analysed using Michele Crossley's (2000) narrative analytic approach. The results suggest that the majority of participants perceived their past self as excessively attractive. Rather than believing that the alteration of their current appearance would rid them of BDD, participants indicated that a return to their former infantile and pure self that was devoid of blemish, defects and emotional responsibility would provide comfort. The findings indicate that the problems associated with appearance have less to do with beauty as such, but are more likely associated with narratives of loss, aging and decline and death.
More than meets the eye: weight lifting and steroid use in men
- Authors:
- BARDICK Angela D., NIXON Gary, BERNES Kerry B.
- Journal article citation:
- Journal of Social Work Practice in the Addictions, 8(2), 2008, pp.208-227.
- Publisher:
- Taylor and Francis
- Place of publication:
- Philadelphia, USA
This study investigated men’s motivations for and experiences with attempting to achieve an ideal masculine body through heavy weight lifting, dieting and steroid use. The related literature is first reviewed then the results of the study in which 8 men living in southern Alberta, Canada were interviewed and asked to recount their experiences using a story format are reported. Subjects were aged from 21 to 35 years and were employed in a variety of occupations. Each subject reported that they had been lifting heavy weights 1 or more hours per day, 4 of more days per week, for a minimum of 6 months. Each had recognised that exercise may be interfering with their social life or work life. Four participants reported using steroids and four reported the use of non-steroid muscle building supplements. The nine main themes that emerged from the participants descriptions of their experiences were: I am not good enough; judging genetics; spiral into obsession; extreme commitment; join the club; no one understands me; control; it’s all an optical illusion; and desire to overcome the obsession. The authors comment that these themes suggest that men who attempt to achieve an ideal masculine body may become engaged in a cycle of obsessive-compulsive exercise, may be dealing with a variety of cognitive, behavioural, emotional, and social problems; and may attempt to overcome these problems by going to the gym rather than by seeking counselling. Implications for counselling are discussed including prevention, intervention and treatment.
The quality of life of young people with Tourette syndrome
- Authors:
- CUTLER D., et al
- Journal article citation:
- Child: Care, Health and Development, 35(4), July 2009, pp.496-504.
- Publisher:
- Wiley
The study examined a UK sample of 57 young people with Tourette syndrome (TS), to consider the impact of TS on young people's Quality of Life (QoL). The study used a mixed methods design, combining focus groups and questionnaire data. Child report questionnaires measured QoL and TS symptom severity. The results showed that the QoL of children with TS was significantly worse than that of children in a UK normative sample. Analysis of transcripts from the groups identified four main themes; 'TS can be distressing and disabling', 'struggling to fit into society's expectations of normal behaviour', 'needing to control tics' and 'TS is one part of who I am'. Poorer QoL was associated with increased symptom severity in terms of tics, Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder diagnosis and obsessive compulsive behaviours.
The broken mirror: understanding and treating Body Dysmorphic Disorder
- Author:
- PHILLIPS Katherine A
- Publisher:
- Oxford University Press
- Publication year:
- 1996
- Pagination:
- 367p.
- Place of publication:
- Oxford
Comprehensive text looking at body dysmorphic disorder or BDD. Looks at what the disorder is, using real life case studies. Outlines the symptoms, examines how BDD can affect people's lives at all levels, and looks at possible causes. Relates the disorder to other syndromes such as anorexia, obsessive compulsive disorder, Koro and other disorders. Finally, examines treatments, including medication and cognitive behavioural therapy.
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.
Learning to use humour in psychotherapy
- Author:
- ORITZ Camilo
- Journal article citation:
- Clinical Supervisor (The), 19(1), 2000, pp.191-197.
- Publisher:
- Taylor and Francis
- Place of publication:
- Philadelphia, USA
The use of humor in psychotherapy is a controversial topic, with some therapists supporting its use and others warning against its risks. For therapists in training, using humour and lightheartedness effectively can be particularly difficult because of the anxiety that most beginning therapists feel. However, humour can be useful for trainees precisely because it helps to reduce the self-doubt that is common among beginners. In this paper the author discusses how the use of humour was employed to help a client with obsessive compulsive disorder.