Mastery of Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder: A Cognitive-Behavioral Approach Therapist Guide (Treatments That Work) [Paperback]

Edna B. Foa (Author), Michael J. Kozak (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: November 11, 2004 | ISBN-10: 0195186826 | ISBN-13: 978-0195186826 | Edition: 1

This program has at its foundation the use of ritual prevention and prolonged actual and imaginable exposure exercises. Therapists will learn the best methods for assessing OCD and formulating a treatment program tailored to their client's particular OCD symptoms. Sample lists of exposure items are provided for fear of contamination, fear of supernatural harm, and fear of causing harm to self and others by acts of negligence.

This Therapist Guide is designed to help psychotherapists in assessing and treating obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD). It is divided into three sections. In the first section, a summary of the symptoms of OCD and methods for assessing the disorder are presented. In the second section, the relative efficacy of the available treatments and how to arrive at treatment recommendations for individuals with OCD who seek treatment are discussed. In the third section, a guide to cognitive-behavioral treatment by exposure and ritual prevention is provided. Also in this section, the components of the treatment procedures whose efficacy has been experimentally documents are described and illustrated, as well as those aspects of their practical application that inhabit experimentally uncharted territory of clinical wisdom and artistry.

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Edna B. Foa, Ph.D. is a Professor of Clinical Psychology in Psychiatry at the University of Pennsylvania and Director of the Center for the Treatment and Study of Anxiety. She received her Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology and Personality, from University of Missouri, Columbia, in 1970. Dr. Foa devoted her academic career to study the psychopathology and treatment of anxiety disorders, primarily obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), post traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), and social phobia and is currently one of the world leading experts in these areas. Dr. Foa was the chair of the DSM-IV Subcommittee for OCD and Co-Chairs the DSM-IV Subcommittee for PTSD. She has also been the chair for the Treatment Guidelines Task Force of the International Society for Traumatic Stress Disorders. Dr. Foa has published several books and over 250 articles and book chapters and has lectured extensively around the world. Her work has been recognized with numerous awards and honors. Among them are: Distinguished Professor Award under the Fulbright Program for International Exchange of Scholars; Distinguished Scientist Award from the American Psychological Association, Society for a Science of Clinical Psychology; First Annual Outstanding Research Contribution Award presented by the Association for the Advancement of Behavior Therapy; Distinguished Scientific Contributions to Clinical Psychology Award from the American Psychological Association; and Lifetime Achievement Award presented by the International Society for Traumatic Stress Studies.

Product Details

• Paperback: 181 pages
• Publisher: Oxford University Press, USA; 1 edition (November 11, 2004)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0195186826
• ISBN-13: 978-0195186826
• Product Dimensions: 8.8 x 6 x 0.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 12 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #286,373 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Most Helpful Customer Reviews

24 of 24 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Mastery of OCD: An Indispensable Treatment Manual, November 21, 2000

By 

Dr. David Tolin (The Institute of Living, Hartford CT USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Mastery of Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder: Therapist Guide (TherapyWorks) (Paperback)

Over two decades of basic and applied research, Kozak and Foa have established themselves as two of the world's leading authorities on OCD and other anxiety disorders. This book represents the accumulation of years of scientific data and clinical experience and is a "must-have" for clinicians working with OCD patients.

The primary strength of the manual is its concise, no-nonsense description of exposure and ritual prevention (EX/RP), a form of cognitive-behavioral therapy with proven efficacy. Kozak and Foa take the reader through a session-by-session account of EX/RP. Treatment planning, descriptions of exposure exercises, and relapse prevention are all described in terms that even non-behavioral therapists can understand. In addition, common obstacles to succesful therapy are discussed, along with potential solutions.

The concise nature of the manual is also its primary limitation. Therapists seeking a detailed understanding of the biological, cognitive, and behavioral aspects of OCD will probably be disappointed. Similarly, alternative treatment strategies such as pharmacotherapy and cognitive therapy are not described in much detail. However, if you are seeking a "bible" of EX/RP, presented clearly and concisely, this book will certainly be a vital resource.