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Obsessive Compulsive Disorder Case Study Essay

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Obsessive Compulsive Disorder Case Study Essay
The information gathered from the case study best illustrates the symptoms related to obsessive compulsive disorder. According to the DSM-5, a person with this disorder is characterized by two important terms, including obsessions and compulsions. Scott has an obsession, that being an idea or thought that continually preoccupies or intrudes his mind, which in this case is his obsession over the contamination of germs. He also has a compulsion, that being an irresistible impulse to perform an act, especially one that is irrational. This is evident in Scott's behavior since it explains how he repetitively washes his hands as well as food for several hours to relieve his obsessive thoughts over germ contamination.

According to the criteria describing obsessive compulsive disorder and anxiety disorders within the DSM-5, these symptoms seem to represent these disorders best: Scott (1) displays recurrent and persistent distress when eating foods outside of his home because he is worried about the "invisible germs"; (2) The obsessive handing washing cause marked distress and are time consuming (take more than 1 hour a day); (3) the obsessions or compulsions significantly interfere with his normal routine, occupational functioning (quit …show more content…
This method of treatment involves gradually exposing Scott to increasing anxiety-evoking stimuli. Another treatment that has been proven effective is exposure response prevention therapy, in which Scott would be exposed to something containing germs and would have to refrain from washing his hands afterwards. This is extremely anxiety-provoking initially, but eventually the anxiety starts to decrease. Furthermore, combining behavior therapy and exposure response prevention therapy together makes for the most effective treatment towards obsessive compulsive
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