Case Study 8: A 26 year old man is very concerned about cleanliness and hygiene. He spends a significant amount of time each day washing his hands or showering, especially after touch a toilet seat, doorknob, or any other item he thinks may be dirty or contaminated. The patient explains that he is concerned about becoming infected or sick from touching these objects. He periodically acknowledges that the washing is excessive but explains that he becomes very anxious when he tries to avoid washing and eventually feels compelled to wash even more to make up for the omission.
The patient has mysophobia, a fear of dirt and germs. As a result, his phobia has developed into Obsessive-Compulisive Disorder (OCD).
One recommeneded procedure to treating OCD is behavior therapy (repeated exposure and response prevention). According to Dr. Gerald Tarlow, "facing your fears through therapy can abolish your compulsions and significantly reduce your obsessive thoughts, thus alleviating your feelings of shame and guilt."
Friday, November 21, 2008
Friday, November 7, 2008
Celebrities with Psychological disorders
Robert Downey Jr., the famous actor from Iron Man, is bipolar. Who knew?? It's amazing to think that a great actor like him suffers from a psychological disorder that affects 1 in 83 people and yet his acting is still amazing.
Robert Downey Jr. has been in and out of drug rehabilitation centers multiple times throughout his life. It wasn't until more recent years while receiving treatment that doctors discovered he had bipolar disorder. His bipolar symptoms are what attribute to his use of alcohol and drugs.
Nevertheless, Robert Downey Jr. is still a great actor. His role in Iron Man was definitely one of his best performances. Despite having bipolar disorder, he never ceases to amaze his audience. That's one good reason to not discriminate against others just because they have a psychological disorder. This is definitely a new perspective worth engaging in.
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