OBESSIVE COMPULSIVE BEHAVIOURS—A THERAPEUTIC STUDY WITH THOUGHT STOPPING PROCEDURE

In a Cross over design, the therapeutic value of thought-stopping technique in Obsessive Compulsive behaviour was examined by comparing its effect to that of progressive muscular relaxation. A group of 17 individuals with obsessive compulsive behaviours patterns served as study group. The measure of therapeutic change include frequency of obsession, Taylor's Manifest Anxiety scale, Beck's inventory for Depression. Distress rating and Fear survey schedule. The results showed marked improvement in 11 individuals and minimal improvement in 3 and no change in the remaining 3 individuals. Both relaxation and as thought stopping effected changes in the indices of therapeutic change. However, thought stopping was found to be significantly more effective. The study also discusses some follow-up data as well as the theoretical issues of obsessional behaviour.