The Cognitive Behavioral Model (OCD)

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The cognitive behavioral model is well regarded as an explanation for the onset, maintenance, and the basis of treatment of many disorders such as OCD. OCD is defined as an anxiety disorder in which obsessions and compulsions are excessive, or distressing. The behavioral model states that all behaviors are learned, this can explain the onset of disorders such as OCD through classical conditioning. Symptoms of OCD are primarily obsessions and compulsions, which are thoughts and behaviors, which are the primary feature of the cognitive model. The disorder is maintained through operant conditioning. Those with OCD engage in compulsion which are negatively reinforced, thus rewarding and allowing the behavior to continue. Treatment is very effective however, using the same principle that maintains behaviors treatments have been created that allow patients to make new connections to those stimuli. Obsessive compulsive behaviors are learned just like most behaviors, this is explained by the behavioral model as classical conditioning. Classical conditioning occurs when a person pairs a response with a previously neutral stimuli. In the case of OCD these associations are not limited to just the initial stimuli ("The …show more content…

Primary symptoms of OCD are obsessions which are intrusive thoughts, and compulsions which are behaviors those with OCD engage in. These intrusive thoughts that occur more frequently than in those not affected by the disorder(Comer, 2004). Compulsions are a way for those who suffer to ease anxiety that can result from obsessive thoughts. Those with OCD might also feel more responsible than those without it, for example someone with OCD might believe it is there job to keep the house secure. These patients may suffer from obsessions that their house is at risk of being broken into, so the compulsion that results might be checking locks multiple

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