A Systematic Review of Thought Control Strategies in Obsessive Compulsive Disorder

Among all the neurotic conditions obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD) considered as a debilitating one. Obsessive thoughts are categorized as unwanted, repetitive and intrusive thoughts, impulses or images that lead a sufferer to an unpleasant sate, called anxiety. In order to get relief from the unpleasant state caused by the obsessive thoughts, some repetitive behaviors or rituals performed by the sufferers which are regarded as compulsions. Basically, these rituals are performed with the intent to alleviate the anxiety stemming from obsessive thoughts. These obsessive thoughts are also common among people without having OCD (Clark & De Silva, 1985). The cognitive formulations of OCD have proposed theories regarding how “normal†Intrusive thoughts have the potential to evolve into diagnosed obsessions (Clark, 2004; Rachman, 1993, 1997, 1998, 2003; Salkovskis, 1985, 1999). The ego-dystonic thought contents, such as aggressiveness, blasphemy, and infection, in the first instance, encourages frightening interpretations of their appearance. These unhelpful interpretations lead individuals to consciously try to manage or ignore intrusive thoughts in an attempt to lessen the discomfort they feel or to avoid anticipated negative outcomes. (Rachman, 1998). Therefore, it is thought that efforts to suppress and/or control intrusive thoughts are crucial in the development and/or upkeep of clinical obsessions. However, it has been found that intrusive thoughts are less distressing in case of normal people compared to those having OCD (Rachman& De Silva, 1978; Salkoskis&Harrison 1984). If obsessive thoughts are experienced by both people having OCD and without having OCD then why do these thoughts are distressing among former than the latter?