Psychological Assessments for Obsessive Compulsive Disorder

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Psychological Assessments for Obsessive Compulsive Disorder

According to the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-IV-TR) published by the American Psychiatric Association, used by psychologists to classify mental disorders, obsessive-compulsive disorder or OCD is defined by obsessions and compulsions that are time-consuming, uncontrollable, and interfere with the individual’s cognition and social development (APA, 2000). For the purpose of this paper the focus will be on psychological assessments used to assist in the diagnosis of OCD. Psychological assessments explored include the Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory -2 (MMPI-2), the Rey-Osterrieth Complex Figure Test (RCFT), and the Yale-Brown Obsessive-Compulsive Scale (Y-BOCS). Obsessions are characterized as unwanted recurrent thoughts and wishes. Compulsions are the rituals, such as excessive cleaning or counting, that follow the obsessions. The act of the compulsion eases the discomfort felt because of the obsession.

The research done in this paper on obsessive-compulsive disorder focuses on both adult and child diagnosis. Research articles were explored to better understand obsessive-compulsive disorder’s symptoms, associated features, etiology, and treatment approaches. According to Lisa Conlan and Isabel Heyman (2007) obsessive-compulsive disorder affects two to three percent of the general population making it the fourth most common psychiatric disorder. Irwin G Sarason and Barbara R. Sarason (2005) state that a compulsive behavior is defined as feeling compelled to perform a particular act or series of acts repeatedly while an obsessive behavior is when someone is unable to get an idea out of their minds. The specific features of the ...

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