Sexual obsessions in obsessive-compulsive disorder. Definitions, models and cognitive-behavioural therapy

Abstract

Sexual obsessions in obsessive-compulsive disorder are featured by unsolicited, intrusive sexual thoughts and images. The occurrence of sexual obsessions is estimated at 16.8% among patients with obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD). The main aim of the article is to present the basic problems related to the phenomenon of sexual obsessions in obsessive-compulsive disorder and to showcase the cognitive and behavioural models of OCD. Apart from that, the article contains a review of literature on the efficacy of cognitive-behavioural therapy in treatment of obsessive-compulsive disorders, including the sexual-oriented ones.