College Honors Program

Psychological Conceptualizations and Treatments of Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD)

Date of Creation

5-1-2022

Document Type

Campus Access Only

First Advisor

Noah C. Berman, Ph.D.

Second Advisor

Richard C. Schmidt

Abstract

This thesis explores three of the leading psychological models of Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD), namely the behavioral, cognitive, and acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT) models of OCD, briefly describing each model before reviewing their histories and unique treatment prescriptions for the psychological disorder , the latter of which is applied through a case vignette. In the first chapter , this thesis provides an overview of OCD, exploring the diagnostic criteria for and phenomenology of the psychological disorder , with a special emphasis on the hallmarks of this condition: intrusions, obsessions, and compulsions. Later , in the second chapter , it turns to the behavioral model of OCD, discussing at length behaviorism and one of the leading treatment models of OCD backed by behavioral theory: exposure and response prevention (ERP), or exposure therapy . After that, in the third chapter , this thesis turns to the cognitive model of OCD, another one of the leading models of OCD. Then, in the fourth chapter , it discusses the ACT model of OCD. Ultimately , this thesis concludes with a comprehensive review and synthesis of the discussed models in the fifth and final chapter .

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