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5 - Obsessions and Compulsions

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  16 March 2023

By
Dean McKay
Edited by
Stephen Hupp  and
Cara L. Santa Maria
Stephen Hupp
Affiliation:
Southern Illinois University Edwardsville
Cara L. Santa Maria
Affiliation:
Fielding Graduate University, California
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Summary

This chapter describes pseudoscience and questionable ideas related to obsessive-compulsive disorder and other related disorders. The chapter opens by discussing controversies such as the assumptions of pseudoscientific medical interventions. Dubious treatments include energy therapies, neurofeedback, thought stopping, psychodynamic therapy, ketamine, magnetic stimulation, and new age wellness remedies. The chapter closes by reviewing research-supported approaches.

Keywords

obsessive-compulsive disorderenergy therapiesneurofeedbackthought stoppingpsychodynamic therapyketaminemagnetic stimulationnew age wellness remediesexposure with response prevention
Type
Chapter
Information
Pseudoscience in Therapy
A Skeptical Field Guide
 , pp. 53 - 68
Publisher: Cambridge University Press
Print publication year: 2023

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