The Boy Who Couldn't Stop Washing : The Experience and Treatment of Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder

One boy spends six hours a day washing himself—and still can't believe he will ever be clean Another sufferer must check her stove hundreds of times daily to make sure she has turned it off And one woman, in an effort to ensure that her eyebrows are symmetrical, finally plucks out every hair All of these people are suffering from Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD), an emotionally crippling sickness that afflicts up to six million Americans. Cleaning, counting, washing, avoiding, checking—these are some of the pointless rituals that sufferers are powerless to stop. Now a distinguished psychiatrist and expert on OCD reveals exciting breakthroughs in diagnosis, succesful new behaviorist therapies and drug treatments, as well as lists of resources and references. Drawing on the extraordinary experiences of her patients, Dr. Judith Rapoport unravels the mysteries surrounding this irrational disorder . . . and provides prescriptions for action that promise hope and help. In this classic study of Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD), a distinguished psychiatrist offers hope and help for those suffering from mental illness, suggesting pathways forward through behavioral therapies and mediation. Drawing on the extraordinary experiences of her patients, Dr. Judith Rapoport unravels the mysteries surrounding OCD, an emotionally crippling affliction that affects millions of Americans. The Boy Who Couldn’t Stop Washing follows Dr. Rapaport’s patient, the pseudonymous “David,” who developed such severe OCD symptoms that he spent so long each day washing himself and cleaning his home that he could no longer keep a job. Through the example of her treatment of “David,” Dr. Rapoport explores the ways in which OCD manifests, how it affects individuals and their families, and the treatment options available to those who suffer from this mental illness. Revealing breakthroughs in diagnosis, therapies, and medication, as well as offering guidelines for diagnosis, resources, and references, Dr. Rapaport offers hope and practical advice for those seeking help for themselves or their loved ones with OCD. Up to six million Americans are afflicted with Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD), a serious, emotionally crippling disease. Cleaning, counting, washing, checking, avoiding—these are just some of the rituals that sufferers are powerless to stop. Now an expert on OCD reveals breakthroughs in diagnosis, successful new behaviorist therapies, drug treatments, and more. In this chapter, a father, a psychologist with obsessive-compulsive disorder, and his wife, a social worker, talk about life with this illness and about looking for help for their seven-year-old son, who suffers from the same problem as his father. Chronicles the experiences of numerous sufferers of Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder, a condition that impels rational people to behave irrationally in some way, discussing the symptoms, effects, and new treatments for this disease