Offers advice on how to choose the most effective therapies and medications, and how to avoid relapses.

Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) is a relatively common psychological problem. The symptoms - which can be seriously disabling in extreme cases - can include excessive hand-washing or other cleaning rituals, repeated checking, extreme slowness and unwanted, repugnant intrusive thoughts. This book covers the nature, symptoms, causes and theories of OCD. It discusses the treatments that are available and provides valuable practical advice to those who may need help. Numerous case histories are given throughout the book, highlighting various aspects of the disorder and its treatment. There are in-depth sections on scrupulosity, culture and OCD, mental pollution, OCD in children and on the similarities and differences between childhood OCD and autistic disorder. This fourth edition has been updated with succinct explanations of recent research, information on treatment advances and the recent expansion of treatment services for anxiety disorders, including OCD, in the NHS. In this updated fourth edition, Stanley Rachman gives a clear account of the nature of obsessive-compulsive problems which will prove useful for sufferers and their families, as well as general readers interested in finding out about the disorder.

A prescription for recovery from obsessive-compulsive disorder, this new paperback combines the latest in scientific knowledge with case histories and practical suggestions for self-help, offering new hope to those touched by this insidious and widespread malady. The authors have distilled their years of research, experimentation, and practice into a readable how-to manual.

If you're a parent of one of the more than one million children in this country with obsessive-compulsive disorder, you know how confusing, even frightening, the symptoms of OCD can be. You're terrified of losing your child and angry about the havoc this disorder has wreaked in your family. More than anything, you want to be able to unlock the secrets of OCD, understand the cause of your child's bizarre symptoms, and help your child break free of these disruptive, relentless thoughts and actions. In her landmark book, Freeing Your Child from Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder, Dr. Tamar E. Chansky creates a clear road map to understanding and overcoming OCD based on her successful practice treating hundreds of children and teenagers with this disorder. In Part I, Dr. Chansky "cracks the code" of the peculiar rules and customs of OCD -- the handwashing, tapping, counting, and so forth. She explains how OCD is diagnosed, how to find the right therapist partner, and how to tailor treatment options to your child's needs. You'll learn how powerful behavioral modification can be and when medication can help. In Part II, you'll learn how not to be pulled in by your child's debilitating rituals at home or at school, how to talk to your child about the "brain tricks" OCD causes, and how to create an effective OCD battle plan that will empower your child to "boss back" the OCD monster. You'll also learn how to cope in moments of crisis. Part III offers specific advice for how to help your child handle the most common manifestations of OCD such as fears of contamination, checking, getting things "just right," intrusive thoughts, and more. Part IV is an indispensable guide to additional resources, including books, videos, organizations, and websites. Filled with Dr. Chansky's compassionate advice and inspiring words from the many children with OCD whom she has helped, this book will be your lifeline. Battling back from OCD is hard work, but with the comprehensive, proven guidance in this book, you can help your child reclaim a life free from its grip.

Researchers and clinicians working with Obsessive-Compulsive Disorders (OCD) and related disorders who need the most current information available will find this volume of great use. Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder: Subtypes and Spectrum Conditions covers contemporary theory, research, and treatment of the various subtypes of OCD and problems often referred to as OCD spectrum disorders. As the mental health field considers the next iteration of the DSM, an entire research agenda is being planned to elucidate issues such as how best to understand and classify OCD. The questions of subtypes and spectrum disorders are at the heart of this issue and will guide how OCD is conceptualized in DSM-V. This volume, dedicated to such diagnostic, theoretical, and treatment issues, helps informs the field of the most up-to-date knowledge and what remains to be resolved. Deconstructs OCD into its subtypes Reviews current research and treatment for these problems Considers how OCD will be conceptualized in DSM-V Represents an international scope with contributions from field experts in psychology, psychiatry, and social work Includes critical discussion of the OCD subtype and OCD spectrum concepts

Giving a full overview of childhood obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD) and discussing all major treatment options, including cognitive behavioural therapy and medication, this guide provides the essential information that families, teachers, caregivers, clinicians and mental health professionals need in order to understand and treat childhood OCD. It covers origins, symptoms and related illnesses and explains how OCD is diagnosed. The book also suggests ways to maximise the outcomes of treatment, what to do when treatment doesn't work, and how to help manage OCD in children at school and in the home.