Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (formerly known as obsessive neurosis) "is categorized as an anxiety disorder because the main focus seems to be anxiety and discomfort that is usually increased by the obsessions (thoughts) and decreased by the compulsions or rituals (actions)." (Baer 3) According to Baer, Obsessions are defined as recurrent, persistent ideas, thoughts, images, or impulses that are experienced, at least initially, as intrusive and senseless. Compulsions are defined as repetitive, purposeful, and intentional behaviors that are performed in response to an obsession or according to certain rules or in a stereotypical fas

****Pato, Michele Tortora, and Joseph Zohar. Current Treatments of Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder. Washington, DC: American Psychiatric Press, Inc, 1991

The frustration experienced by the obsessional person is a result of disobedience of a different order severely disturbed by any deviation from the set order and feels compelled to reposition the status quo. (Reed 38) For example, if someone puts a document on your desk then this person just moved an item from your possession, in turn when you arrive, you have to remove the item and put anything that was interfered with back to a precise order.

Exposure and response prevention is effective for many people with OCD. The patient intentionally and willingly deals with the feared object or idea, either by imagination or directly. The patient is urged to refrain from ritualizing with the patients loved ones. For example, a compulsive hand washer may be encouraged to touch an object believed to be tainted, and then advised to avoid washing for numerous hours until the provoked anxiety has greatly decreased. The process then moves to the patient's ability to bear the anxiety and to control the rituals. Most patients even experience less anxiety from the obsessive thoughts and are able to oppose the compulsive urges. The patient needs to have an extremely positive outlook for life and to maintain a high self-esteem. Cognitive-behavioral treatment or psychotherapy may also provide effective for OCD. This alternative behavior therapy highlights changing the obsessive-compulsives beliefs and thinking patterns and is 60-70% helpful with OCD patients.

Obsessions and compulsions are also linked to toxic conditioned stimuli obtained by classical conditioning events. The response and stimulus are used identically because they have double properties. An example of this is fear. Fear is a response, but also it is an obsessive thought of hurting, which would make it a stimulus also. The interaction between the repeated ruminations and mood turbulence increases the provocation of the individual and increases the tendency to reflect even further. Temporary relief produced from the ritual, or motor act terminates an aversive condition. This makes the resolution prototype likely to be repeated the next time producing a disturbing thought. The classical conditioning will result an anxiety. This will now become a conditioned stimulus for a response. When this stimulus is then paired again to another neutral stimulus, the conclusion also acquires aversive connotations and its presence will bring out anxiety. While this is occurring, the original anxiety response is lik

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