Concepts and Controversies in Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder

Jonathan S. Abramowitz, Ph.D., ABPP, is Associate Professor and Director of the OCD/Anxiety Disorders Program at the Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN. He conducts research on OCD and other anxiety disorders and has published over 50 journal articles and book chapters. He also maintains an active consultation and clinical practice. He serves on Advisory Boards for the Obsessive Compulsive Foundation and Anxiety Disorders Association of America and has received awards from the American Psychological Association, National Institutes of Health, Obsessive-Compulsive Foundation, and Mayo Clinic. Arthur C. Houts, Ph.D., was Professor and Director of Clinical Training at The University of Memphis until he retired in 2003 to work full time at The West Clinic, a large oncology center in Memphis, TN. He has published broadly in adult and child clinical psychology, as well as in the field of science studies. Dr. Houts is currently developing technology to provide better quality of life assessment in cancer care and is building a research network of oncology practices for clinical trials.

From the reviews: Abramowitz and Houts' volume on Concepts and Controversies in OCD is a winner. This is a must read for discerning clinicians, graduate students and researchers wanting to stay on top of the latest information and clinical disagreements about OCD. Experts formally debate the important issues about symptom subtypes, the relationship of OCD and spectrum conditions, biological and psychological models, and cognitive versus behavioral versus pharmacological treatments. This is a cutting edge work likely to catalyze important discoveries about OCD and related problems. Gail Steketee, PhD Professor, Co-Chair of Clinical Practice Boston University School of Social Work "Over the past 30 years, clinical scientists have devoted considerable attention to the experiences of people suffering from obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD). ... The unique feature of this volume is that it revolves around a series of exchanges or discussions. ... The book's principal value lies in the presentation of information from a number of different fields of study. ... The topics included in the volume are well chosen ... . The editors have done the field a great service ... ." (Thomas F. Oltmanns, PsycCRITIQUES, Vol. 51 (27), July, 2006)

• Phenomenology.- Symptom Dimensions in OCD: Developmental and Evolutionary Perspectives.- Dimensional and Subtype Models of OCD.- Animal Models of Obsessive-Compulsive Behavior: A Neurobiological and Ethological Perspective.- Behavioral and Functional Animal Models of OCD.- The Case for the OCD Spectrum.- Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder: Essential Phenomenology and Overlap with other Anxiety Disorders.- Trichotillomania: An Obsessive-Compulsive Spectrum Disorder?.- Overlap of Body Dysmorphic Disorder and Hypochondriasis with OCD.- Contrasting Nonparaphilic Sexual Addictions and OCD.- Compulsive Buying: A Disorder of Compulsivity or Impulsivity?.- Contrasting Tourette'S Syndrome and TIC Disorders with OCD.- Etiology.- Neuropsychiatric Models of OCD.- Cognitive-Behavioral Models of OCD.- Treatment.- Formal Cognitive Therapy: A New Treatment for OCD.- Treatment for OCD: Unleashing the Power of Exposure.- The Role of the Therapist in Behavior Therapy for OCD.- Self-Directed Exposure in the Treatment of OCD.- Combining Pharmacotherapy and Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy in the Treatment of OCD.- Combining Serotonergic Medication with Cognitive-Behavior Therapy: Is it Necessary for all OCD Patients?.