A person with Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder, or OCD, spends an average of seven to ten years searching for help, and is often misdiagnosed by three to four psychologists or doctors before correctly identifying the disorder (Hyman 41). Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder is an anxiety disorder associated with irrational repetitive thoughts, chronic fears, unnecessary hoarding, frequent disturbing mental images, and mental compulsions such as ritualizing behaviors (OCDLA). In the past, many treatment centers, researchers, and doctors have sought for the answer to this syndrome that disturbs thousands of people, but few discovered long term success in case studies. Psychopharmacology is often the approach prescribed for patients struggling for a cure. This frequently involves treatment such as antidepressants, serotonin reuptake inhibitors, shock therapy, even removal of parts of the brain. These medicinal measures often fall short of long term success, and side-effects from medication frequently worsen the condition. Advancement in the research of OCD treatments have led professionals to a blend of cognitive and behavioral therapy or Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy (CBT). This type of treatment combines therapy which aims to ameliorate the thought process of the OCD patient, with behavioral therapy which targets a behavioral change to provide healthier coping mechanisms (Hyman 42). This combination of treatment has proven to be the most affective form of therapy for people struggling with Obsessive Compulsive Disorder, especially compared with alternative forms of treatment.
Obsessive Compulsive Disorder manifests itself in many forms of personality disorders, has many symptoms, and must be carefully diagnosed by a trained professional. Psychologists often diagnose people with OCD using a questionnaire based on the patient’s symptoms and perceptions. Such questions may include, “Do you have obsessions and/or compulsions that are severe enough to take up more than...