Judith L. Rapoport

The Experience and Treatment of Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder

The Boy Who Couldn't Stop Washing

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.

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 bizarre disease

This book examines the early development of obsessive-compulsive disorder (which now affects over one million children and adolescents) and describes two effective treatments: behavior modification and drug treatment with clomipramine. Based on research from the National Institute of Mental Health, this book's theoretical sections probe the frontiers of today's scientific understanding of this disorder and present information applicable to all age groups. Firsthand accounts from patients provide a depth of detail and clinical richness that will be greatly appreciated by all clinicians treating children and adolescents who have this disorder.

Judith L. Rapoport

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