126). Cognitive theorists believe it arises from negative thinking and irrational ideas, and that there is a genetic and biochemical basis underlying the disorder. The disorder is diagnosed by reviewing past history, conducting a neurobehavioral mental status exam, observing symptoms, and interviewing family members. Determining the triggers for the obsessions and compulsions is helpful.
Several disorders are often comorbid with OCD (Tukel, Polat, Ozdemur, Aksu and Turksoy, 2002, 304-309). These include major depressive disorder, panic disorder, simple phobia, social phobia and generalized anxiety disorder. Eating disorders, alcohol abuse, Tourette disorder, tricothilomania, body dysmorphic disorder, hypochondriasis and schizophrenia are also sometimes associated with OCD. Sometimes family members suffer discrimination because of relatives with OCD because in some places mental problems are still frowned on by society (Stengler-Wenzke, Trosbach, Dietrich and Anger Meyer, 2004, 88-96). A study in Germany showed that there was considerable distress among family members of those with OCD because of the stigmatization of having a mental disorder in the family. Many attempted to conceal the disorder to avoid the stigmatization. They restricted the social engagements involving the affected person, and labeled the odd behaviors as quirks, to explain them to outsiders. They also experienced stigmatization in the medical system in terms of a delay in getting the condition recognized and treated.
Recent studies have shown that OCD is more common than thought, and approximately 5 million Americans suffer from the disorder and roughly one third to one half of adults with the disorder experienced symptoms prior to 15 years of age (Nicoletto-Sayrett, 2002, 36-37). Behavioral treatment for OCD includes behavioral therapies such as positive reinforcement, punishment and differential reinforcement, modeling, satiation, cognitive rest...