H. R. (Harold Reginald) Beech (1925–1992) was, at the time of original publication, Consultant Psychologist at Withington Hospital, West Didsbury, Manchester, UK.

Reviews for the original edition:‘… this book is welcome and timely … a valuable contribution, well produced, which is particularly useful in giving the reader a perspective of the ramifications of these illnesses, with facts, experimental results and hypothesis. Apart from its immediate usefulness, it can be guaranteed a leading role in the literature and in moulding current and future thought and practice.’ – British Journal of Psychiatry‘… a carefully prepared and edited book, the making of which has engendered creative thinking by the fourteen psychologist and psychiatrist contributors, and the reading of which is likely to stimulate further thinking and clinical research… The thorough critical coverage of clinical studies, research and experimental work relating to obsessional behaviour and character in Parts 1 and 2 will make this a useful reference book.’ – British Journal of Social and Clinical Psychology

• List of Contributors. Part One: Clinical and Psychometric Descriptions 1. Approaches to Understanding Obsessional States H. R. Beech 2. The Natural History of Obsessional Neurosis Alan Black 3. The Clinical Problem Peter G. Mellett 4. Psychometric Studies of Obsessional Illness and Obsessional Personality P. D. Slade. Part Two: Theory and Experiment 5. Toward a Theory of Obsessional Disorder H. R. Beech and J. Perigault 6. Decision-Making, Mood States and Ritualistic Behaviour Among Obsessional Patients H. R. Beech and Andrée Liddell 7. Displacement Activity as a Form of Abnormal Behaviour in Animals H. C. Holland 8. Thinking and the Obsessional Fay Fransella 9. Learning Models of Obsessional-Compulsive Disorder John D. Teasdale Part Three: Therapeutic Approaches 10. The Behavioural Treatment of Obsessive-Compulsive Disorders V. Meyer, R. Levy and A. Schnurer 11. Psychotherapy and Obsessional Disorders Robert Cawley 12. Physical Treatments in Obsessional Disorders M. Sternberg. References. Index.