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Book Details
Abstract
Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD) is a debilitating condition in which unwanted and intrusive thoughts (and accompanying compulsive behaviour) prevent you from living a fulfilling and healthy life. Dr Frederick Toates, an eminent psychologist and a long-term sufferer from OCD who has managed to control the damaging aspects of this depressing condition, gives professional analysis and personal insights into both obsessional thoughts and obsessional behaviour. This book tells you all you need to know about OCD and gives sound, practical advice on how to control it.
•Effective plans and strategies for overcoming the debilitating aspects of obsessional neurosis •Tried and tested therapeutic techniques that have worked for many people •Helpful insights from the authors’ own experiences of OCD, giving leads to help you and your family and friends •Medically accurate advice and encouragement on how to deal with your OCD
Table of Contents:
Part 1: Autobiographical sketch
1 Home in Histon
2 Leaving school
3 Student Life
4 Denmark – almost heaven
5 Signs of trouble ahead
6 Decline
7 Getting back to normal
8 Misplaced complacency
9 Never get complacent
10 Going public
Part 2 What is obsessional disorder and what can be done about it?
11 The nature of the problem
12 Overlap and confusion with other conditions
13 Who develops the disorder, and what is it like for them?
14 Professional help
15 Self-help – what to do and what not to do
16 Trying to solve the puzzle
17 Some famous thoughts
18 Conclusion
19 Glossary
Table of Contents
| Section Title | Page | Action | Price |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cover | Cover A | ||
| Contents | v | ||
| Foreword by Padmal de Silva | vii | ||
| Foreword to the first edition by Professor Hans J Eysenck | ix | ||
| Preface | xi | ||
| Preface to the first edition | xiii | ||
| Part 1 Autobiographical sketch | 1 | ||
| 1 Home in Histon | 3 | ||
| 2 Leaving school | 14 | ||
| 3 Student life | 17 | ||
| 4 Denmark – almost heaven | 23 | ||
| 5 Signs of trouble ahead | 28 | ||
| 6 Decline | 34 | ||
| 7 Getting back to normal | 43 | ||
| 8 Misplaced complacency | 47 | ||
| 9 Never get complacent | 52 | ||
| 10 Going public | 66 | ||
| Part 2 What is obsessional disorder and what can be done about it? | 81 | ||
| 11 The nature of the problem | 83 | ||
| Linking the experience to gaining understanding | 100 | ||
| Suppose that I believe it makes good sense? | 99 | ||
| Obsessions and compulsive behaviour | 97 | ||
| Neutralising thoughts | 96 | ||
| Content of obsessional thoughts | 94 | ||
| The nature of the thoughts | 92 | ||
| Is onset associated with a particular event? | 92 | ||
| Age of onset | 91 | ||
| Nature and nurture | 89 | ||
| How many people have the disorder? | 88 | ||
| What is and is not an obsessional disorder | 85 | ||
| Exactly what is obsessional disorder? | 84 | ||
| 12 Overlap and confusion with other conditions | 101 | ||
| Rituals and premonitions | 101 | ||
| Morbid preoccupations | 103 | ||
| Psychotic disorder – am I going mad? | 104 | ||
| Phobias | 105 | ||
| Tourette’s syndrome | 108 | ||
| Anorexia nervosa and body appearance | 109 | ||
| Depression | 111 | ||
| Appetitive urges | 112 | ||
| 13 Who develops the disorder, what is it like for them? | 114 | ||
| Are they male or female? | 114 | ||
| Comparing different societies | 114 | ||
| What is obsessional personality? – a problem | 115 | ||
| What characteristics comprise the obsessional personality? | 116 | ||
| Obsessional disorder, crime and the law | 121 | ||
| Marriage and the family context | 123 | ||
| Some disorders associated with the obsessional personality | 124 | ||
| Obsessionals and the Puritan personality | 124 | ||
| The obsessional personality, creativity and the famous | 126 | ||
| Coping with an obsessional person as a partner | 127 | ||
| Summary | 128 | ||
| 14 Professional help | 129 | ||
| Behaviour therapy | 130 | ||
| Paradoxical intention | 132 | ||
| Cognitive therapy | 134 | ||
| Behaviour therapy and cognitive therapy compared | 135 | ||
| Some other ways of treating obsessions without compulsive behaviour | 137 | ||
| Drugs | 138 | ||
| Electroconvulsive therapy | 140 | ||
| Psychosurgery | 140 | ||
| Final word | 141 | ||
| 15 Self-help – what to do and what not to do | 142 | ||
| Self-applied behaviour therapy | 142 | ||
| Keeping busy | 143 | ||
| Brain lock | 144 | ||
| Checking | 146 | ||
| Exercise,getting out and keeping busy | 147 | ||
| The company of others | 148 | ||
| Prayer and religion | 148 | ||
| Buddhism and self-help | 148 | ||
| Effects of alcohol and drugs | 149 | ||
| Alternative/complementary medicine and techniques | 149 | ||
| Prevention and some warning signs | 150 | ||
| Jobs and career guidance | 151 | ||
| What can a partner or friend do to help? | 151 | ||
| 16 Trying to solve the puzzle | 155 | ||
| Is OCD an illness? | 155 | ||
| Animals under stress – a suitable model? | 156 | ||
| Does obsessional disorder serve a purpose? | 158 | ||
| Conditioning | 159 | ||
| Mood state | 161 | ||
| Stress | 162 | ||
| Is my brain malfunctioning or damaged? | 163 | ||
| Conscious and unconscious processing | 166 | ||
| A feedback explanation of obsessional disorder? | 168 | ||
| Obsessions without compulsive behaviour | 172 | ||
| Obsessional thoughts and compulsive behaviour | 174 | ||
| Creativity | 175 | ||
| 17 Some famous thoughts | 177 | ||
| Samuel Johnson (1709–1784) | 177 | ||
| George Henry Borrow (1803–1881) | 186 | ||
| Hans Christian Andersen (1805–1875) | 193 | ||
| Charles Darwin (1809–1882) | 199 | ||
| Gioacchino Rossini (1792–1868) | 207 | ||
| Søren Kierkegaard (1813–1855) | 210 | ||
| Howard Hughes (1905–1976) | 215 | ||
| Kurt Gödel (1906–1978) | 219 | ||
| Glenn Gould (1932–1982) | 223 | ||
| Woody Allen (1935–) | 227 | ||
| Brian Wilson (1942–) | 231 | ||
| Karen Carpenter (1950–1983) | 233 | ||
| 18 Conclusion | 238 | ||
| Brain function | 238 | ||
| Perfectionism | 239 | ||
| Goal-directed behaviour | 239 | ||
| Control | 240 | ||
| Differences between obsessionals | 240 | ||
| F.T.’s personal views | 241 | ||
| Glossary | 243 | ||
| Resources | 247 | ||
| Index | 255 |