Neurotic Disorders. Cognitive Psychotherapy Obsessions

Cognitive psychologists and therapists have developed a promising theory of the formation and methods of treatment of obsessive-compulsive disorder. Since their theory and therapeutic techniques also utilize the principles of behaviorism, many analysts prefer to describe this approach as a cognitive - behavioral.

Cognitivetheory ofthe formation ofan obsessive-compulsive disorder

Cognitive theory of the formation of obsessive - compulsive disorder begins by pointing out that each person has recurrent, unwanted, intrusive thoughts. Each can have thoughts of harming others, to participate in inappropriate sexual acts, of infection by viruses, but most people can easily discard or ignore them. Nevertheless, those who have formed an obsessive - compulsive disorder, usually blame themselves for such thoughts, and suggest that there will be something terrible.

These people are so disgusting by unwanted thoughts and create such tension that they try to eliminate or avoid them. They neutralize - think and behave in a manner that is intended to correct what is happening inside them, compensate uncomfortable thoughts. Neutralization includes the requirement of special approval from the other, the conscious creation of a “good” thought, hand washing or checking the possible hazards.

When a neutralizing force brings a temporary reduction in discomfort, it is supported and, obviously,  is used again. Finally, neutralizing thoughts or actions are used so often that they become, by definition, obsessive or compulsive actions. At the same time people are becoming more and more convinced of the danger of intrusive thoughts, which were at first. Sense of threat and anxiety caused by these thoughts, increases, as a result such thoughts increasingly come to mind, thus becoming too intrusive. Unwanted thoughts are at everyone, but only in some they are developing neurosis.
Why do they find ordinary thoughts so anxious that begin to form a disorder? Researchers found that such people have a greater tendency to depression than others, and (2) have extremely high standards of conduct and morality, (3) believe that their intrusive negative thoughts can harm them or others and feel responsible for preventing imagined danger, and (4) in most cases, believe they can and should strictly control their thoughts and actions.

Other aspects of cognitive theory also received scientific support. Some researchers have found, for example, that people suffering from obsessive-compulsive disorder have intrusive thoughts more than other people do. In addition, studies have confirmed that people who have formed an obsessive-compulsive disorder, at least sometimes, try to stop their unwanted thoughts, resort to a more thoughtful and complex neutralizing techniques than others, and, – It appears that these neutralizing techniques at the time of their discomfort and reduce stress levels.

Cognitivetherapiesof obsessivecompulsive disorder

In psychotherapy for people suffering from obsessive-compulsive disorder, sometimes there are used approaches that combine cognitive and behavioral techniques.

Therapists who use adaptive training, seek again and again to call the customer’s obsession. They suggest that due to intense exposure, these thoughts will no longer seem as threatening, anxiety caused by them will drop, and in this way it decreases the number of newly emerging obsessive thoughts or compulsive actions.

In one embodiment, clients are instructed to call just in the mind intrusive thoughts or images, and a time to hold them. Alternatively, customers once or twice a day for an hour are listening to their own voice, recorded on tape and confirm their obsessive thoughts over and over again.

Training adaptation (flood) - a therapeutic technique in which a therapist tries again and again to call the customer obsessions, suggesting that as a result of such thinking will lose their value and threatening and it will cause reduction of anxiety.

Psychotherapy of people with only intrusive thoughts, often lies only in the training of adaptability. However, treatment of others therapists can add a hidden technique to prevent the answer: they teach clients to retain or be distracted from the performance of compulsive actions that may arise during the training adaptability. So far, the major support to this approach was based on the results of a study of clinical cases.