Question

Piacentini & Langley (2004) described the treatment of a 12-year old boy obsessed with germs and contamination and compelled to wash his hands. The treatment required him to touch trash cans and doorknobs without washing his hands for increasing periods of time. What type of treatment is this young boy taking aprt in ?

a) Exposure therapy
b) Cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT)
c) Medication therapy
d) Psychoanalysis

Answer 1

The 12-year-old boy receiving treatment for an obsession with germs is undergoing Exposure Therapy, not psychoanalysis. Exposure Therapy aims to reduce anxiety through controlled exposure to the anxiety source without compulsive responses. While cleanliness is crucial in healthcare, excessive hygiene practices in OCD can hinder normal immune function.

Step-by-step explanation:

The treatment described for the 12-year-old boy obsessed with germs is not psychoanalysis but rather a form of Exposure Therapy, which is commonly used to treat obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD). Exposure Therapy involves gradually exposing a patient to their source of anxiety, in this case, germs, without allowing them to perform their compulsive behavior, which is hand washing. The goal is for the individual to become desensitized to the anxiety-inducing stimuli, thus reducing their obsessive fears and compulsive behaviors over time.

While hand washing is essential for preventing the spread of disease, excessive hand washing due to OCD can be counterproductive. The rise of the hygiene hypothesis suggests that some exposure to pathogens may be beneficial for developing a strong immune system.

By understanding the principles of germ theory, made prominent by figures such as Joseph Lister and Ignaz Semmelweis, modern healthcare emphasizes cleanliness and disinfection, notably in surgical environments, to prevent infections. However, in the context of OCD, this understanding must be balanced to prevent debilitating fear and compulsions related to germs.