Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

An Overview of Clinical and Research Issues in Obsessional-Compulsive Disorders

  • Chapter
Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder

Abstract

Since the introduction of the concept of obsessional-compulsive disorder (OCD) well over a hundred years ago, the definition of the disorder has produced little controversy. The main features are difficult to mistake, and recent research has enabled us to clarify and review the concept. Jaspers’s (1963) definition is representative and comprehensive.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this chapter

Log in via an institution
Chapter
USD 29.95
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
eBook
USD 84.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as EPUB and PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
Softcover Book
USD 109.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Compact, lightweight edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info
Hardcover Book
USD 109.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Durable hardcover edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info

Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout

Purchases are for personal use only

Institutional subscriptions

Preview

Unable to display preview. Download preview PDF.

Unable to display preview. Download preview PDF.

References

  • Akhtar, S., Wig, N. H., Verma, V. K., Pershod, D., & Verma, S. K. A phenomenological analysis of symptoms in obsessive-compulsive neuroses. British Journal of Psychiatry, 1975, 127, 342–348.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Bandura, A. The principles of behavior modification. New York: Holt, Rinehart & Winston, 1969.

    Google Scholar 

  • Bandura, A. Social learning theory. Prentice-Hall. Englewood Cliffs, NJ

    Google Scholar 

  • Bandura, A., Grusec, J., and Menlove, F. Vicarious extinction of avoidance behavior. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 1967, 5, 449–455.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Baum, M. Extinction of avoidance responding through response prevention (flooding). Psychological Bulletin, 1970, 74, 276.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Beech, H. R. Ritualistic activity in obsessional patients. Journal of Psychosomatic Research, 1971, 15, 417–422.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Beech, H. R. (Ed.). Obsessional states. London: Methuen, 1974.

    Google Scholar 

  • Birley, J. Modified frontal leucotomy: A review of 106 cases. British Journal of Psychiatry, 1964, 110, 211–221.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Black, A. The natural history of obsessional neurosis. In H. R. Beech (Ed.), Obsessional states. London: Methuen, 1974.

    Google Scholar 

  • Bridges, P., Goktepe, E., & Maratos, J. A comparative review of patients with obsessional neurosis and with depression treated by psychosurgery. British Journal of Psychiatry, 1973, 123, 663–674.

    Google Scholar 

  • Capstick, N. Clomipramine in the treatment of true obsessional state—A report on four patients. Psychosomatics, 1973, 16 (1), 21–25.

    Google Scholar 

  • Carey, G. A clinical genetic study of obsessional and phobic states. Unpublished doctoral dissertation, University of Minnesota, 1978. Quoted by Murray et al. (1981).

    Google Scholar 

  • Carr, A. Compulsive neurosis: A review of the literature. Psychological Bulletin, 1974, 81, 311–318.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Cawley, R. H. Psychotherapy and obsessional disorders. In H. R. Beech (Ed.), Obsessional states. London: Methuen, 1974.

    Google Scholar 

  • de Silva, P., & Rachman, S. Is exposure a necessary condition for fear-reduction? Behaviour Research & Therapy, 1981, 19, 227–232.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Eysenck, H. J., & Rachman, S. The causes and cures of neurosis. London: Rout-ledge & Kegan Paul, 1965.

    Google Scholar 

  • Fernandez, R. & Lopez-Ibor, R. Mono-chlorimipramine in the treatment of psychiatric patients. Acta Esperimentale Neurologia, 1969, 26, 119–147.

    Google Scholar 

  • Gittelson, N. The fate of obsessions in depressive psychosis. British Journal of Psychiatry, 1966, 112, 705–708.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Goktepe, E., Young, L., & Bridges, P. A further review of the results of stereotactic subcaudate/tractotomy. British Journal of Psychiatry, 1975, 126, 270–280.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Goodwin, D., Guze, S., & Robins, E. Follow-up studies in obsessional neurosis. Archives of General, 1969, 20, 182–187.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Grimshaw, L. Obsessional disorder and neurological illness. Journal of Neurology, Neurosurgery and Psychiatry, 1964, 27, 229–231.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Hare, E., Price, J., & Slater, E. Fertility in obsessidnal neurosis. British Journal of Psychiatry, 1972, 121, 197–205.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Hodgson, R. J., & Rachman, S. The effects of contamination and washing in obsessional patients. Behaviour Research & Therapy, 1972, 10, 111–117.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Horowitz, M. Intrusive and repetitive thoughts after experimental stress. Archives of General Psychiatry, 1975, 32, 1457–1463.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Ingram, I. M. Obsessional illness in mental hospital patients. Journal of Mental Science, 1991, 197, 382–402.

    Google Scholar 

  • Inouye, E. Similar and dissimilar manifestations of obsessive-compulsive neurosis in monozygotic twins. American Journal Psychiatry, 1965, 121, 1171–1175.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Jaspers, K. General psychopathology. Chicago: University of Chicago Press, 1963.

    Google Scholar 

  • Kelly, D., Walter, C., Mitchell-Heggs, N., & Sargant, W. Modified leucotomy assessed clinically, physiologically and psychologically at six weeks and eighteen months. British Journal of Psychiatry, 1972, 120, 19.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Kringlen, E. Obsessional neurotics: A long-term follow-up. British Journal of Psychiatry, 1965, 111, 709–722.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Kringlen, E. Natural history of obsessional neurosis. Seminars in Psychiatry, 1970, 2, 403–419.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Lewis, A. Problems of obsessional illness. Proceedings of the Royal Society of Medicine, 1936, 29, 325–336.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Lewis, A. Obsessional disorder. In R. Scott (Ed.), Price’s textbook of the practice of medicine (10th ed.). London: Oxford University Press, 1966.

    Google Scholar 

  • Likierman, H., & Rachman, S. Spontaneous decay of compulsive urges. Behaviour Research & Therapy, 1980, 18, 387–394.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Likierman, H., & Rachman, S. Obsessions: An experimental investigation of thought stopping and habituation training. Behavioral Psychotherapy, 1982, 10, 324–328.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Lo, W. A follow-up study of obsessional neurotics in Hong Kong Chinese. British Journal of Psychiatry, 1967, 113, 823–832.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Malan, D. Individual psychotherapy and the science of psychodynamics. London: Butterworths, 1979.

    Google Scholar 

  • Mavissakalian, M. Functional classification of obsessive-compulsive phenomena. Journal of Behavioral Assessment, 1979, 1, 271–279.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Meyer, V. Modification of expectations in cases with obsessional rituals. Behaviour Research & Therapy, 1966, 4, 273–280.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Meyer, V., Levy, R., & Schnurer, A. The behavioral treatment of obsessive-compulsive disorder. In H. R. Beech (ed.), Obsessional states. London: Methuen, 1974.

    Google Scholar 

  • Mitchell-Heggs, N., Kelly, D., & Richardson, A. A stereotactic limbic leucotomy—A follow-up at 16 months. British Journal of Psychiatry, 1976, 128, 226–240.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Mowrer, O. H. A stimulus-response theory of anxiety. Psychological Review, 1939, 46, 555–565.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Mowrer, O. Learning theory and behavior. New York: Wiley, 1960.

    Book  Google Scholar 

  • Murray, R., Clifford, C., Fulker, D., & Smith, A. Is there a genetic contribution to obsessional traits and symptoms? In M. Tsuang & N. Watson (Eds.), Genetic issues. New York: Academic Press, 1981.

    Google Scholar 

  • Parkinson, L., & Rachman, S. Are intrusive thoughts subject to habituation? Behaviour Research & Therapy,1980, 18,409–418.

    Google Scholar 

  • Pollitt, J. Natural history of obsessional states. British Medical Journal, 1957, 1, 195–198.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Rachman, S. Obsessional ruminations. Behaviour Research and Therapy, 1971, 9, 229–235.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Rachman, S. The modification of obsessions: A new formulation. Behaviour Research & Therapy, 1976, 14, 437–443.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Rachman, S. An anatomy of obsessions. Behavior Analysis and Modification, 1978, 2, 255–278.

    Google Scholar 

  • Rachman, S. Psychosurgical treatment of obsessional-compulsive disorders. In E. Valenstein (Ed.), The psychosurgery debate. San Francisco: W. H. Freeman, 1979.

    Google Scholar 

  • Rachman, S., & de Silva, P. Abnormal and normal obsessions. Behaviour Research & Therapy, 1978, 16, 233–248.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Rachman, S., & Hodgson, R. Obsessions and compulsions. Englewood Cliffs, NJ: Prentice-Hall, 1980.

    Google Scholar 

  • Rachman, S., & Wilson, G. T. The effects of psychological therapy. Oxford: Pergamon Press, 1980.

    Google Scholar 

  • Rachman, S., Hodgson, R., & Marks, I. The treatment of chronic obsessional neurosis. Behaviour Research & Therapy, 1971, 9, 237–247.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Rachman, S., de Silva, P., & Roper, G. The spontaneous decay of compulsive urges. Behaviour Research & Therapy, 1976, 14, 445–453.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Rachman, S., Cobb, J., MacDonald, B., Mawson, D., Sartory, G., & Stern, R. The behavioral treatment of obsessional-compulsive disorders, with and without clomipramine. Behaviour Research & Therapy, 1979, 17, 467–478.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Roper, G., & Rachman, S. Obsessional-compulsive checking: Replication and development. Behaviour Research & Therapy, 1975, 14, 25–32.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Roper, G., Rachman, S., & Hodgson, R. An experiment on obsessional checking. Behaviour Research & Therapy, 1973, 11, 271–277.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Rosenberg, C. Familial aspects of obsessional neurosis. British Journal of Psychiatry, 1997, 113, 405–413.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Rosenthal, D. Genetic theory and abnormal behavior. New York: McGraw-Hill, 1970.

    Google Scholar 

  • Salzman, L., & Thaler, F. Obsessive-compulsive disorders: A review of the literature. American Journal of Psychiatry, 1981, 138, 286–296.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Shields, J. Heredity and psychological abnormality. In H. J. Eysenck (Ed.), Handbook of abnormal psychology (2nd ed.). London: Pitmans, 1973.

    Google Scholar 

  • Skoog, G. The anancastic syndrome. Acta Psychiatrica et Neurologica Scandinavica,1959, 34 (Suppl. 134).

    Google Scholar 

  • Slater, E., & Cowie, V. The genetics of mental disorders. London: Oxford University Press, 1971.

    Google Scholar 

  • Smith, J. S., Kiloh, L. G., Cochrane, N., & Klijajic, I. A prospective evaluation of open prefrontal leucotomy. Medical Journal of Australia, 1976, 1, 731–735.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Stern, R. S., & Cobb, J. Phenomenology of obsessive-compulsive neurosis. British Journal of Psychiatry, 1978, 132, 233–239.

    Google Scholar 

  • Sternberg, M. Physical treatments in obsessional disorders. In H. R. Beech (Ed.), Obsessional states. London: Methuen, 1974.

    Google Scholar 

  • Strom-Olsen, R., & Carlisle, S. Bi-frontal stereotactic trachotomy. British Journal of Psychiatry, 1971, 118, 141–154.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Sutherland, G., Newman, B., & Rachman, S. Experimental investigations of the relations between mood and intrusive unwanted cognitions. British Journal of Medical Psychology, 1982, 55, 127–128.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Sykes, M., & Tredgold, R. Restricted orbital undercutting. British Journal of Psychiatry, 1964, 110, 609–640.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Teasdale, J. Learning models of obsessional-compulsive disorder. In H. R. Beech (Ed.), Obsessional states. London: Methuen, 1974.

    Google Scholar 

  • Templer, D. I. The obsessive-compulsive neurosis: Review of research findings. Comprehensive Psychiatry, 1972, 13, 375–383.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Thoren, P., Asberg, M., Cronholm, B., Jornestadt, L., & Traskman, L. Clomipramine treatment of obsessive-compulsive disorder. Archives of General Psychiatry, 1980, 37, 1281–1285.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Tienari, P. Psychiatric illnesses in identical twins. Acta Psyciatrica Scandinavica, (Suppl. 171 ), 1963.

    Google Scholar 

  • Videbech, T. The psychopathology of anacastic endogenous depression. Acta Psychiatrica Scandinavica, 1975, 52, 336–373.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Wilner, A., Reich, T., Robins, I., Fishman, R., & van Doren, T. Obsessivecompulsive neurosis. Comprehensive Psychiatry, 1976, 17, 527–539.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Wolpe, J. Psychotherapy by reciprocal inhibition. Stanford: Stanford University Press, 1958.

    Google Scholar 

  • Wolpe, J. The practice of behavior therapy ( 2nd ed. ). Oxford: Pergamon Press, 1973.

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Psychology, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada, V6T 1Y7

    S. Jack Rachman

Authors
  1. S. Jack Rachman
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Western Psychiatric Institute and Clinic, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, 3811 O’Hara Street, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA

    Matig Mavissakalian , Samuel M. Turner  & Larry Michelson ,  & 

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

Copyright information

© 1985 Springer Science+Business Media New York

About this chapter

Cite this chapter

Rachman, S.J. (1985). An Overview of Clinical and Research Issues in Obsessional-Compulsive Disorders. In: Mavissakalian, M., Turner, S.M., Michelson, L. (eds) Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder. Springer, Boston, MA. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4899-0542-0_1

Download citation

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4899-0542-0_1

  • Publisher Name: Springer, Boston, MA

  • Print ISBN: 978-1-4899-0544-4

  • Online ISBN: 978-1-4899-0542-0

  • eBook Packages: Springer Book Archive

Publish with us

Policies and ethics

Search

Navigation