Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder & Tourette’s Disorder

I. Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder: an anxiety disorder characterized by obsessions and / or compulsions. A. Obsessions: repetitive, unwelcome streams of thought. B. Compulsions: repetitive, almost irresistible actions.

C. Types of obsessive thoughts and related compulsive behaviors… 1) Contamination fears 2) Harming self or others 3) Lack of symmetry 4) Pathological doubt 5) Sexual obsessions 6) Obsessions about superstitious or religious beliefs 7) Compulsive Hoarding: the excessive acquisition of possessions (and failure to use or discard them), even if the items are worthless, hazardous, or unsanitary.

D. Comorbidity… E. Demographics… F. Genetic Causes…

G. Brain Scans…

1) Thought Stopping Therapy (Cognitive Therapy): the H. Treatment… 1) Thought Stopping Therapy (Cognitive Therapy): the individual is instructed to yell “STOP” every time they begin having repetitive thoughts. 2) Exposure Therapy (Behavioral Therapy): the patient is exposed to the situation that brings on the compulsive behavior, but is prevented from engaging in it. Flooding: a sudden and large-scale exposure to the source of fear under controlled conditions. Systematic Desensitization: reduces fear by gradually exposing people to the source under controlled conditions. 3) Drug Therapy

II. Tourette’s Disorder: a neurological condition producing a chronic combination of motor tics and vocal tics. A. Tic: a rapid, recurring involuntary movement or vocalization. B. Some Common Motor Tics… 1) Eye blinking 2) Clearing the throat 3) Head twitching or shaking 4) Flailing one’s arms about 5) Copropraxia: involuntarily performing obscene or forbidden gestures. 6) Echopraxia: the involuntary repetition or imitation of the observed movements of another.

C. Some Common Vocal Tics… 1) Coprolalia: involuntary swearing or the involuntary utterance of obscene words or socially inappropriate and derogatory remarks. 2) Echolalia: the automatic repetition of vocalizations made by another person. 3) Palilalia: the repetition or echoing of one's own spoken words. 4) Screaming/Yelling 5) Grunting 6) Random bizarre noises

D. Description of tics from the perspective of those with the condition… E. Comorbidity… F. Demographics… G. Genetic Causes… H. Treatment… 1) Psychotherapy 2) Drug Therapy