Tormenting Thoughts and Secret Rituals: The Hidden Epidemic of Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (Paperback)

by Ian Osborn (Author) "OBSESSIVE-COMPULSIVE DISORDER can now be understood on a neurobiological level, yet its symptoms still seem altogether mysterious..." (more)
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Editorial Reviews

From Booklist
As many as six million Americans may suffer from obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), making it one of the most common mental diseases. Osborn had a bout with it while in medical training, and he narrates the unfolding understanding of the disease and its treatment informatively and readably. In medieval times, many felt that the disorder had a religious basis. Later, puritanism imputed it to sinning, and psychoanalysis "proved" that it had deep psychological roots. Osborn shows that OCD is caused by a chemical imbalance in the brain and that behavior therapy and drugs, preferably together, can take care of it for most patients; Osborn personalizes this part of the discussion with case histories of individuals rather than stick-figure textbook abstractions. He also mentions new research, such as that which finds a possible link between OCD and childhood streptococcal infections; brain injury and stress may also play causative roles. He concludes with a long list of OCD support groups and other helpful information. William Beatty --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Review
"A truly wonderful, compassionate book."
--James W. Broatch, executive director, Obsessive-Compulsive Foundation

"A splendid book on OCD--lively, lucid, informative, and scholarly."
--Ronald Pies, M.D., clinical professor of psychiatry, Tufts University School of Medicine

"A marvelous achievement--an excellent and very practical overview of OCD and its treatment."
--Jeffrey Schwartz, M.D., associate professor, UCLA School of Medicine -- Review

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Product Details

• Paperback: 336 pages
• Publisher: Dell; 1 edition (April 13, 1999)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0440508479
• ISBN-13: 978-0440508472
• Product Dimensions: 8 x 5.3 x 0.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 10.6 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.6 out of 5 stars See all reviews (19 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #316,858 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

42 of 42 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Outstanding book for understanding and managing OCD, January 5, 1999

By	[e-mail] "lem4" (United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Tormenting Thoughts and Secret Rituals: The Hidden Epidemic of Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (Hardcover)

I am a licensed psychologist and a patient with obsessive compulsive symptoms. For over five years I have voraciously consumed the available literature to get help for myself and my clients. This book is a must have. Nothing I have read has been better.

Dr. Osborn's magic is in letting himself shine through as a fellow sufferer who is a deeply compassionate practitioner. His case studies show many of the subtle faces of OCD and give us insight into the suffering this disorder can bring.

A real highlight of the book is when he lets his group therapy patients speak to us through their ten strategies for coping with OCD.

This is a six star book.

22 of 22 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Dealing With Obsessive Thoughts, September 29, 2000

By A Customer

I have read several book on OCD that dealt mainly with checking rituals. However, I've suffered from obsessive thoughts all my life. I was never able to find a book that satisfied my desire to learn how to deal with these thoughts in a way that made sense to me. Until now! This books has provided me with many suggestions on dealing with unwanted thoughts. Suggestions that have helped. The book deals so much with the experiences of Dr. Osborn's patients, that I felt like I was part of a therapy group. It felt so good hearing the stories of others. I highly suggest this book for anyone fighting those unwanted thoughts.

17 of 17 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Great and Unusual Book, September 5, 2003

By A Customer

Dr. Osborn does a great work with this book. In the early chapters he provides case histories that let us see first hand what OCD is. Then he provides a diagnostic test for self-evaluation. Then he cuts loose with the definitions. OCD thoughts fall into four categories, fear of contamination (filth), fear of hurting others or oneself (harm), fantasies of impulse (lust) and fear of hurting God or one's relationship. (blasphemy). He does not cover hoarding or collecting behaviors in detail, but mentions the possible relationships.

Dr. Osborn's principle insight is that OCD is neurobiological in origin, and that it is successfully treated with serotonin reuptake inhibitors like Zoloft and Prozac. He argues that it should be renamed "basal ganglia" disorder, since this is the brain center implicated (along with the thinking trail to the frontal lobe). I hope this proposal is adopted.

The author uses four criteria to establish an OCD thought, and its matching, anxiety reducing behavior, which are the obsession and the compulsion respectively. Such thoughts have four properties which can be remembered by the mnemonic 2IRU. OCD thoughts are inappropriate, intrusive, recurrent and unwanted. This is what distinguishes them from addictive thoughts.

This book unlocked for me an understanding of a multigenerational difficulty and for Dr. Osborn's many insights I am grateful.

- Van
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