The OCD Workbook : Your Guide To Breaking Free From OCD

Author: Bruce Hyman, Ph.D. and Cherry Pedrick, R.N.
Publisher: New Harbinger Publications; 2nd edition (August 1, 2005)
ISBN: 1572244224
Amazon Average Customer Review: 5/5 (based on 12 reviews)

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      Reviewed by Ian Osborn, M.D. State College, PA

The OCD Workbook is the most helpful presentation of behavior therapy for OCD that has been published in quite a few years. Cherry Pedrick, an R.N who has herself suffered OCD, and Bruce Hyman, Ph.D., a psychologist and social worker who specializes in treating the disorder, make a great team. Their book flows smoothly along with a wonderfully compassionate tone while providing an excellent blend of clinical and theoretical material.

The book is divided into four sections. Part One presents an easily digestible review of OCD's diagnosis, proven causes, and effective treatments. Part Two, the heart of the book, discusses cognitive-behavior treatment in detail, including instructions for self-directed treatment programs. Part Three deals with OCD spectrum disorders and childhood problems. Part Four finishes with a discussion of how family members, support groups, and various types of therapists can help.

I found Part Two's presentation of behavior therapy to be exceptional. Clearly written, easy to follow, and yet very complete; it is the best introduction to behavior therapy for OCD that I have yet read. For every major subtype of disorder there is an outline for a complete therapy program.

Have a problem with "hit and run obsessions?" Pedrick and Hyman provide worksheets for assessing the symptoms, monitoring obsessions and compulsions, constructing a situations hierarchy, and then executing exposure and response prevention. All for that one specific problem and with examples of every form filled out! Likewise, step-by-step instructions are provided for the treatment of common contamination, harm, sexual, religious and orderliness obsessions. Pedrick and Hyman do not neglect the hard to treat cases. Pure obsessions, obsessional slowness, and hoarding are also tackled in an easy-to-understand manner with case studies included.

One of the main strengths of The OCD Workbook is the inclusion of a number of different approaches to behavior therapy. For those OCD sufferers who are "psyched up" to make an all-out effort, the book provides a "fast track." For those more fearful, there is a gradual method to follow that still gets results. Recently developed behavior therapy techniques including ritual delay and imaginal exposure are presented in a reader-friendly manner.

I particularly enjoyed the layout of the book. We do not have to wade through one lengthy paragraph after another. Rather, every page is divided into manageable sections with clear headings. Lists, highlights, sidebars, and set-off examples make the book ultra-easy to follow and a pleasure to read. A quibble is the lack of an index.

The OCD Workbook falls short only in trying to cover too much. Non-behavior treatments such as medications are dealt with superficially. Similarly, discussions of disorders that are associated with OCD such as depression, ADHD and Trichotillomania are not detailed enough to satisfy most readers.

All in all, The OCD Workbook is a wonderful addition to our resources. I am already using it with some of my patients. The discussion of behavior therapy is so clear and complete that it is equally helpful for both therapists conducting treatment and OCD sufferers taking on the disorder by themselves.

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