“Compare and contrast a psychodynamic/psychoanalytic and a cognitive-behavioural approach to the understanding and treatment of obsessive-compulsive disorder. Which approach do you prefer and why?”

Obsessive-Compulsive disorder is not yet fully understood, and thus is presently the subject of a number of possible theories regarding its origin and treatment. Despite this controversy however, a number of basic facts regarding the symptoms and diagnosis of the disorder remain consistent among all these approaches (it is the cause and treatment that is under question, not the form the disorder itself takes).

The basic symptoms of Obsessive-Compulsive disorder centre on the afflicted individual suffering from constant obsessive thoughts of an unpleasant and unrealistically excessive nature (such as that of being contaminated by germs, or wanting to do harm to a family member)…(short extract)