[Image by PTRA]

Obsessed

Television channel A&E’s new series on obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD) is engrossing. I watched three episodes and was impressed by how close they got to people who normally hide their symptoms; both the sensitivity of the producers and bravery of the subjects. But while it does shine as the best of TV in some ways, it also carries its worst tendencies. Disorders that have tormented people for decades are reduced to sobbing/smiling dramas with happy endings in under an hour. But that’s TV. I like TV, so I don’t have a big problem with it, so long as people learn that there’s more to OCD treatment – it’s not traditional CBT, it’s behavioural therapy involving exposure and response prevention along with CBT (sometimes habit reversal training and/or medication too) that needs a specialized psychotherapist. The profiles of people with a variety of severely disabling symptoms elicit strong reactions, and as Claudia Holwill from A&E commented, “We hope it helps gives sufferers the encouragement to seek support, and others a better understanding about the issue.” It definitely succeeds at that. The accompanying web site (with streaming episodes available to view in the U.S. and Canada) offers bonus video from patient diaries, links to OCD and anxiety disorder groups, treatment info, and a user forum where you can read the usual arguments over medication (oddly not mentioned in the episodes I saw). Judging by my unscientific Torrent Seeders Ratings System (TSRS) this show may not linger online for long, but it’s worth watching while you can. Have cable for your HDTV set and live in America? Obsessed is scheduled to air Mondays and Tuesdays in June, 09.

Producer: A&E	Featuring: Helen, Scott, Nidia, Rick, Nicole, Trina, Russ, Karen, other sufferers, Shana Doronn, Karen Pickett, John Tsilimparis, Rebecca Gladding, Dr. Craig April
Format: Flash	Date: 2009
Length: 00:44:32 +/-
http://www.aetv.com/obsessed/
Tags:anxiety, brain, Cbt, Documentary, exposure, obsession, OCD, psychiatry, psychology, psychotherapy, TV, video

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