Understanding and treating incompleteness in obsessive-compulsive disorder

J Clin Psychol. 2004 Nov;60(11):1155-68. doi: 10.1002/jclp.20080.

Abstract

Incompleteness-the troubling and irremediable sense that one's actions or experiences are not "just right"--appears to underlie many of the symptoms of obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD). Because incompleteness may reflect basic sensory-affective dysfunction, it presents a challenge to clinicians wishing to apply cognitive-behavioral treatments. In this article, I review ways of adapting well-demonstrated treatment principles to this condition. A case is presented and then used to discuss challenges in conducting cognitive-behavioral therapy with this population. Behavioral methods aimed at habituation (e.g., exposure and ritual prevention [ERP]) are probably more applicable than conventional cognitive techniques. However, even these may result in modest long-term gains; relapse is a probability if they are not actively practiced after treatment cessation.

Publication types

  • Case Reports
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Arousal
  • Awareness
  • Ceremonial Behavior
  • Cognitive Behavioral Therapy / methods*
  • Combined Modality Therapy
  • Comorbidity
  • Decision Making
  • Defense Mechanisms
  • Depressive Disorder, Major / diagnosis
  • Depressive Disorder, Major / psychology
  • Depressive Disorder, Major / therapy
  • Desensitization, Psychologic / methods
  • Habituation, Psychophysiologic
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder / classification
  • Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder / diagnosis
  • Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder / psychology
  • Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder / therapy*
  • Personal Satisfaction
  • Secondary Prevention
  • Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors / therapeutic use

Substances

  • Serotonin Uptake Inhibitors