Doubting Doubt: Success, Failure and Ambiguity in Two Psychodynamic Treatments of Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder by Paul Doyen, LMSW

Psychoanalytic Explorations is a series in which faculty members and students of the NOBPC, as well as interested members of the community, present and discuss issues of current concern to them. The focus will be on clinical practice, theoretical challenges, and non-clinical applications of psychoanalytic theory; all presentations are intended to deepen attendees’ ability to think psychoanalytically. Each session will begin with a presentation followed by questions and answers and open discussion, with the intention of facilitating relaxed, informal peer exchange.

Psychologists, Social Workers, and Licensed Professional Counselors may also receive continuing education credit for this activity if their accredited associations or boards recognize CME credits.

Discussion begins at 11am Central Time at NOBPC or Zoom

While psychoanalysis has historically revolved around the obsessive character, psychoanalytic research has almost completely neglected the subject of obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD). In fact, since Freud first presented his famous case of obsessive neurosis, The Rat Man, in 1909, psychoanalytic models of OCD have remained largely unchanged.

Paul Doyen, LMSW, will discuss Glen Gabbard’s claim that psychoanalytic therapy cannot cure OCD. He will present two cases in which the use of behavioral interventions brought on benefits as well as unexpected conflicts and transference reactions in clients with OCD. Finally, Paul will review recent research on the need to combine psychoanalytic and behavioral models in order to successfully treat OCD.

Learning Objectives:

• Summarize and contrast classical, interpersonal and behavioral accounts of OCD
• Describe the relationship between obsessive neurosis (or OCD) and obsessive character (or OCPD)
• Discuss the benefits and risks of introducing behavioral interventions into psychoanalytic treatments 

Please join us at NOBPC or via Zoom. Participation is open to all. In-person space is limited so please register early.

Please click HERE for online registration. If you prefer to pay by check, please email nobpcenter@gmail.com.

Fee for 2 CME credits:

• NOBPC members $15
• Non-members $25

Zoom registration ends 24 hours before the event.

Optional Readings:

• Chaudhary, S., Singh, A. P., & Varshney, A. (2022). Psychodynamic perspective of sexual obsessions in obsessive-compulsive disorder. Annals of Neurosciences, 29(2–3), 159–165. https://doi.org/10.1177/09727531221115305
• Leichsenring, F., & Steinert, C. (2016). Psychodynamic therapy of obsessive‐compulsive disorder: Principles of a manual‐guided approach. World Psychiatry, 15(3), 293–294. https://doi.org/10.1002/wps.20339
• Woon, L. S.-C., Kanapathy, A., Zakaria, H., & Alfonso, C. A. (2017). An integrative approach to treatment-resistant obsessive-compulsive disorder. Psychodynamic Psychiatry, 45(2), 237–257. https://doi.org/10.1521/pdps.2017.45.2.237

This activity has been planned and implemented in accordance with the accreditation requirements and policies of the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education (ACCME) through the joint providership of American Psychoanalytic Association and NOBPC. The American Psychoanalytic Association is accredited by the ACCME to provide continuing medical education for physicians.

The American Psychoanalytic Association designates this live activity for a maximum of 1.5 AMA PRA Category 1 Credit(s)™. Physicians should claim only the credit commensurate with the extent of their participation in the activity.

The APsA CE Committee has reviewed the materials for accredited continuing education and has determined that this activity is not related to the product line of ineligible companies and therefore, the activity meets the exception outlined in Standard 3: ACCME’s identification, mitigation and disclosure of relevant financial relationship. This activity does not have any known commercial support.