This article describes the use of self-monitoring and thought stopping presented via imaginal instructions for a 52-year-old woman whose major complaint was repetitive and uncontrollable looking rituals. Imaginal presentation of thought- stopping was utilized as her compulsive rituals did not occur in the therapy session. Results indicated success for self-monitoring and thought-stopping across several target behaviors. It was concluded that imaginally presented thought-stopping can be a useful technique for obsessive-compulsive individuals with cognitive rituals that can not be replicated within the therapy session.
Get full access to this article
View all access options for this article.
References
1.
Bellack, A. S. & Hersen, M.Behavior modification: An introductory textbook. New York: Oxford University Press, 1977.
2.
Foa, E. B. , Steketee, G. S., & Ozarow, B. J.Compulsives: From theory to treatment. In M. Mavissakalian, S. M. Turner, & L. Michelson (Eds.), Psv5chological anel pharma- cological logical treatment of'Ohsesiv'e-cOm pulsive disorder, New York: Plenum, in press.
3.
Kazdin, A. E.Therapy outcome questions requiring control of credibility and treatment generated expectancies . Behavior Therapy, 197910, 81-93.
4.
Levis, D. J.Implementing the technique of implosive therapy. In A. Goldsteing & E. B. Foa (Eds.), Handbook of behavioral interventions: A clinical guide. New York: John Wiley, 1980.
5.
Lombardo, T. W. & Turner, S. M.Though-stopping in the control of obsessive ruminations. Behavior Modification, 1979, 3, 267-272.
6.
Stern, R. , Lipsedge, M. S., & Marks, I. M.Obsessive ruminations: A controlled trial of thought-stopping technique. Behaviour Research and Thereapy, 1973, 11, 659-662.
7.
Turner, S. M. , Hersen, M., Bellack, A. S., Andrasik, F., & Capparell, H. V.Behavioral and pharmacological treatment of obsessive-compulsive disorders. Journal of Nervous and Mental Disease, 1980, 168, 651-657.
