Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD) is characterised by intrusions into conscious thinking by repetitive, personally abhorrent, absurd and alien thoughts (obsessions) which lead to endless repetitive acts or rehearsal of irrational and sometimes bizarre mental and behavioural rituals (compulsions). Although a number of clinical constructs have been proposed to have a causal influence on OC symptoms, extremely little research exists examining how these constructs are related to each other and, further, how the relationships between these constructs influences each constructs relationship with OC symptoms (e.g. does a given construct have an independent role in influencing OC symptoms or is the constructs influence on OC symptoms being mediated by its influence on another intervening construct or constructs?). In the current thesis, the relationships between 5 clinical constructs were examined, as well as how the pattern of these relationships may affect each constructs influence on OC symptoms. A large questionnaire study suggested that the five constructs are best seen as separate constructs rather than indicators of one underlying construct. Separate experimental studies in which all 5 constructs were manipulated individually suggest that whilst inflated responsibility, intolerance of uncertainty and negative mood, respectively, all causally influence every other construct focused on in this thesis, not just right experiences and as many as can stop rules, respectively, do not casually influence any other construct. Subsequent regression analyses suggest that whilst some constructs directly influence OC symptoms, other constructs influence on OC symptoms are mediated by intervening constructs in the final model, whilst some constructs have little to no influence on OC symptoms when the influence of other constructs in the final model are taken into account. Implications of these findings for existing models of OCD, for studies examining the relationship between multiple constructs and OC symptoms and for the treatment of OCD are discussed.

When I began the Compulsion and Recovery Research Project in 1992, I did so in response to the schism between professionals who were leaders in the addiction recovery field. Known as the D and A Debate, this schism resulted in changes in government policy, funding and service provision, causing great confusion to people suffering with addictions. It was described by the media as 'addiction treatment now a battleground'.As a family therapist specialising in addictions recovery, I became concerned about this battle between leaders in the recovery field and its impact on the community. I had experience in running halfway houses for people recovering from addictions and knew that abstinence with AA worked. I embarked on a research project which used a dialectic/narrative method inquiry method, interviewing leaders in the conflict and others who contributed progressive ideas to recovery. This process aimed at ensuring there was validity, rigour and ethics in the research process. Importantly as a result of this inquiry, I came to believe that the Drug and Alcohol Debate (D and A Debate) protagonists need not dogmatically defend their own model to the point of being in conflict, as all their treatments work, and it was valid to concede that different models work for different people in different stages of their recovery - 'whatever works works, and not to be judged by others'. (Nicotine Anonymous The Book, 1992:113) / Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)

This study is a critical, feminist psychological investigation of nurses’ experiences, understandings and perceptions of nursing eating disorder patients. Specifically 19 in-depth semi-structured interviews were conducted at a large metropolitan Australian hospital complex with nurses who care for eating disordered patients. A qualitative discourse analytic methodology was used to analyse the data. The analysis investigates the different ways that the eating disorder patients and the nurses are constituted in a web of explicit and implicit discursive constructions and discursive practices. The analysis also considers how relations of power between the nurses, the patients and the doctors and other health care workers are constituted in discourse and practice, as well as exploring how the eating disorder patient group and the role of the nurse is feminised / Master of Arts (Hons)

Thesis (Ph. D.)--Brigham Young University. Dept. of Marriage and Family Therapy, 2006. / Includes bibliographical references (p. 143-153).

The purpose of this study was to assess body-image attitudes and the extent of obligatory exercise among physically active women, and to examine interrelationships among these variables, and age differences. The sample included one hundred and eighty-three female exercise participants, aged 18 to 71 years. The Multidimensional Body-Self Relations Questionnaire was used to assess subjective body-image attitudes. The Obligatory Exercise Questionnaire was used to assess extent of obligatory exercise behavior. It was found that the majority of physically active women are generally satisfied with most aspects of their body images. However, 82% were concerned with their appearance, 30.6% were preoccupied with their weight, and 41% perceived themselves as being overweight. Appearance evaluation was positively related to satisfaction with weight, which was the strongest predictor of global appearance evaluation. Older women (56 to 71 years) were significantly more concerned with their health than were younger women (18 to 25 years). The extent of obligatory exercise behavior among physically active women was very small, and was not related to age. Obligatory exercise scores were predicted by fitness and health orientation, and overweight preoccupation, and inversely predicted by age and health evaluation.

Thesis (M.A.)--State University of New York at Binghamton, Dept. of Psychology, 2007. / Includes bibliographical references.

Thesis (M.C.S.)--Regent College, Vancouver, B.C., 1997. / Abstract and vita. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 205-212).

Thesis (M.A.)--Bowling Green State University, 2008. / Document formatted into pages; contains viii, 84 p. Includes bibliographical references.

Thesis (M.F.A.)--Rochester Institute of Technology, 2009. / Typescript. Includes bibliographical references (leaf 18).

Ministry research project (D. Min.)--Midwestern Baptist Theological Seminary, 1996. / Includes bibliographical references (leaves 159-163).