Cheryl spends four hours every day in the shower, scrubbing her skin raw with a loofa brush for fear that she is contaminated with urine or feces. She sees a cognitive-behavioral therapist for treatment. The cognitive-behavioral therapist is most likely to write which note about Cheryl's case?
A) "Guarding against own unacceptable urges; uses reaction formation as a general defense."
B) "Engages in superstitious behavior; probably associating hand washing with some previous situation where it led to reinforcement."
C) "Neurotransmitters not functioning properly; needs medication."
D) "Need to correct dysfunctional beliefs in order to reduce anxiety over cleanliness."

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Cheryl's behavior is indicative of obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), where the excessive concern with cleanliness and contamination is driven by anxiety and dysfunctional beliefs. Cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) focuses on identifying and correcting these beliefs to alleviate the compulsive behavior and reduce anxiety.

Cheryl Spends Four Hours Every Day in the Shower, Scrubbing