Humanistic Perspective on OCD

What is OCD?

Unlike the popular opinion, OCD isn’t about habits like biting your nails or thinking negative thoughts. An obsessive thought might be that certain numbers or colors are “good” or “bad.” A compulsive habit might be to wash your hands seven times after touching something that could be dirty. Although you may not want to think or do these things, you feel powerless to stop.


 

Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) is a mental illness that causes repeated unwanted thoughts or sensations (obsessions) or the urge to do something over and over again (compulsions). Some people can have both obsessions and compulsions.


Humanistic approach

The humanistic approach rejects the perspectives of behavior and psychodynamic theories and assumes a phenomenological approach that encompasses the individual’s perception of experience in the world. The underlying basis of the humanist perspective is that people are active, creative and strive for growth and love as they aim for the goal of self-actualization, or the greater love, peace, and acceptance from others and the self.  To help individuals achieve the goal of self-actualization, humanists exhibit active listening, empathy, unconditional positive regard, and congruence with patients allowing the patient to feel he or she is in control of their destiny and their thoughts and feelings are accepted no matter what they are.

The Humanist approach to dealing with OCD allows the patient to feel as if they are in full control of what is taking place as they experience empathy and respect from the treating therapist.  The patient is encouraged to choose their destiny: to eliminate the obsession and compulsive behaviors caused by the obsession and not feel as if their disorder is being judged and scrutinized, rather accepted, but changeable.

 Diagnosis

 There are various steps that can be included in order to diagnose obsessive compulsive disorder:

Ø  Psychological evaluation: This includes discussing the patient’s thoughts, feelings, symptoms and behavior patterns to determine if he/she has obsessions or compulsive behaviors that interfere with their quality of life. This may include talking to family or friends as well.

Ø   Diagnostic criteria for OCD: The doctor may use criteria in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, published by the American Psychiatric Association. 

Ø Physical exam: This may be done to help rule out other problems that could be causing symptoms and to check for any related complications.

Causes

The cause of obsessive-compulsive disorder isn't fully understood. But the research theories suggest the following causes:

Ø  Biological cause: OCD may be a result of changes in body's own natural chemistry or brain functions.

Ø  Genetics: OCD may have a genetic component, but specific genes have yet to be identified.

Ø  Learning: Obsessive fears and compulsive behaviors can be learned from watching family members or gradually learned over time.

There are other factors that may increase the risk of developing or triggering obsessive-compulsive disorder include:

Ø  Family history: Having parents or other family members with the disorder can increase the risk of developing OCD.

Ø  Stressful life events: If one experienced traumatic or stressful events, his/her risk may increase. This reaction may, for some reason, trigger the intrusive thoughts, rituals and emotional distress characteristic of OCD.

Ø  Other mental health disorders: OCD may be related to other mental health disorders, such as anxiety disorders, depression, substance abuse or tic disorders.

 

Symptoms

OCD symptoms include both obsessions and compulsions; which usually the person does not have control over as well. OCD compulsion is recurring behavior; which makes a person have the urges to execute certain behaviors. This recurring behavior is intended to avoid or decrease certain anxieties that relates to the person’s obsession. As an example, suppose that a person believes that they ran another person over with their vehicle; the person will often come back to the scene of the crime because they cannot grasp the concept that they did that. People often construct regulations or a ritual that they believe that helps to manage their anxieties that is often felt throughout their lives and they believe that without certain rituals that their anxieties will return. Throughout this presentation OCD will be discussed in various ways and from quite a few different perspectives as well.

Treatment

 

The goal of humanistic therapy for OCD is to create an appropriate environment by which the patient will be able to develop, mature, and evolve, and as a result continue the progress in healthy development. In humanistic view, psychological dysfunction is caused by an interruption in development because of social and emotional immaturity. By enabling natural development, the patient regains his/ her natural ability to proceed in a healthier direction. By maintaining natural development, individuals continue along their personal life pathway, and meeting their psychological needs.

 

Humanistic therapy emphasizes the uniqueness of the individual. It is an empowerment-focused, self-driven therapy model that focuses on the ability of us to ‘help ourselves' given the correct circumstances. This approach is based on the belief that the actualization of self, or reaching personal potential, is the primary motivation of all human beings and critical to well being.

During sessions, a humanistic therapist may work with the patient to explore issues and life experiences that are preventing him/her from reaching their full potential or causing emotional difficulty. The main goal of therapy is personal growth on all levels: emotional, psychological and spiritual

There are various techniques used in humanistic therapy, as this approach underpins a number of therapeutic forms. However, the basis of therapy is always self-exploration and empowerment of the individual in a supportive environment. Techniques of listening, accepting, understanding and sharing will be common to all forms of humanistic therapy.

Some widely practiced forms of humanistic therapy include Gestalt Therapy, Person centered Therapy(also known as client-centered therapy), etc. One well known Gestalt technique is known as the empty chair that sits in the therapist’s office. By entering into a discussion with the imagined person, conflicts are more easily resolved. The goal is to allow the patient to work with the fears and emotions surrounding the issue, ultimately rendering the situation less scary whereby the patient no longer needs to avoid the other person or situation.


Prevention

 

There is no prevention for OCD known to us. However, early diagnosis and treatment can help to prevent it from getting severe or reaching the next stages.

 

Recent Research & Findings

 

According to research, depth in experience in psychology is positively related to outcome. In humanistic therapy, this depth is a normal expectation and one goal of its application. This indicates feelings and emotions are being processed and new more appropriate meanings are formed as well as finding solutions to problems that create fear and avoidance, and other issues that derail the natural human proclivity to evolve. There is however, no empirical research clarifying the effective role of humanistic therapy in relieving the intrusive symptoms of obsessive compulsive disorder.

 

References

https://jlo62581.wordpress.com/tag/humanistic-approach-to-ocd/

https://www.healthyplace.com/other-info/mental-illness-overview/what-is-humanistic-therapy-what-does-it-treat

https://psychological-musings.blogspot.com/2011/08/major-approaches-to-clinical-psychology.html

https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/obsessive-compulsive-disorder/symptoms-causes/syc-20354432

 


Comments

  1. Using life control, empathy and perceptional experience in the humanistic approach to understand OCD has both positive and negative criticisms. One of the key strengths is that it focuses on positive growth based on individual choice and responsibility. It provides behavioral insights and satisfies personal ideals by using individualistic study methods. An example would be personal counseling to increase comfort and self-actualization.

    But the concepts of this approach are vague and too focused on positivity that it ignores negative aspects like opposition to determinism due to extensive support of freewill. It is based on subjective experiences over scientific evidence leading to learning style issues. While this approach helps OCD patients feel like they are in control of their mind, body and encouraging respect from the therapist, it even promotes frustration and ethnocentricity when they feel confused or incapable to change.

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  2. Humanists dismiss behavioral and psycho-dynamic theories and adopt qualitative methodology. The foundation of the humanist perspective is that people are engaged, innovative and striving for progress. Humanists display constructive attention, compassion, unconditional optimistic interest, and compatibility with patients. Patients are encouraged to choose their desires and not to be objectified or critiqued.

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  3. The ultimate goal of humanistic outlook to help oneself however in case of children suffering from OCD a humanistic approach is not always the best method. In case of an adult self actualization and achivement of goals are big motivation to overcome OCD. However children lack these motivation and a different approach will have to be taken

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  4. The Humanistic approach is a different take on a mental disorder. Not everyone agrees to this. The approach focuses on the person's needs and comfort. As mentioned in the previous comment it talks about the positives. Even then, i personally feel that this approach would be effective for individual progress and to achieve this they exhibit active listening . empathy, unconditional positive regard and congruence with patience.

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  5. Humanistic approach unlike other approaches is more focused towards the individual and subjective differences. It gives importance to free will and self exploration, that might be helpful in reducing the symptoms to some extent.

    Humanistic therapy creates a positive and accepting environment for the OCD patient allowing him/her to accept modified behaviours. However, this therapy lacks evidence and scientific backing and thus, is not the preferred treatment option. As the emphasis is on qualitative data, it becomes difficult to observe any significant changes in patient behaviour.

    Humanistic approach does not have enough objectivity to reach to definite conclusions. Thus, this approach is not as reliable as other approaches such as biological and cognitive.

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