Last updated, 5th October 2011
Listed here are a few books that the author has found useful.
Baer L., The imp of the mind, exploring the silent epidemic of obsessive bad thoughts, Plume, New York, 2002. This book explores the reason why some people suffer with bad thoughts and focuses on intrusive thoughts of a sexual, violent, inappropriate and blasphemous nature. It offers therapeutic strategies based on cognitive behaviour therapy. This book also offers advice on the medications available.
Grayson J., Freedom from obsessive compulsive disorder, a personalized recovery program for living with uncertainty, Berkley Books, New York, 2004. The basic message of this book is that by tolerating and living with the uncertainty of OCD, the illness will loosen its grip. It offers a therapeutic programme based on cognitive behaviour therapy with suggestions for the main categories of OCD (e.g. contamination, checking, perfection, and 'magical thinking'). This book also offers advice on the medications available.
Kabat-Zinn J., Full Catastrophe Living, How to cope with stress, pain and illness using mindfulness meditation, Piatkus, New York, 1990. This is not a book specifically for OCD sufferers, but is a comprehensive and instructive book on how to practise mindfulness meditation - an upcoming tool in the battle against OCD.
Schwartz J.M., Brain Lock, free yourself from obsessive-compulsive behaviour, a four-step self-treatment method to change your brain chemistry, Harper Perennial, New York, 1996. This book is based around four steps to identify and correct OCD behaviour. It presents interesting results on the behaviour of the OCD brain with physical evidence from brain imaging. This book has a brief discussion of medications.
Veale D. and Willson R., Overcoming obsessive compulsive disorder, A self-help guide using cognitive behavioural techniques, Robinson, London, 2005. A comprehensive book covering most types of OCD and the psychological mechanisms that are at work to maintain the condition. It discusses famous people in history who showed OCD behaviour and suggests possible causes of OCD in a sufferer. It offers a therapeutic programme based on cognitive behaviour therapy, with examples based on case studies. This book also offers advice on the medications available and advice to friends and families of sufferers.
Listed here are a few internet resources that the author has found useful (this list includes UK and USA links).
British Association for Behavioural and Cognitive Psychotherapies, http://www.babcp.com/Default.aspx. This site allows members of the public to find accredited therapists in their region of the UK.
OCD-UK, http://www.ocduk.org/. A major UK OCD charity.
OCD Action, http://www.ocdaction.org.uk/. A major UK OCD charity.
The International OCD Foundation, http://www.ocfoundation.org/. A major USA OCD not-for-profit organisation.
OCD Help, http://www.ocdhelpdoc.com/. A site of advice by Dr. Jonathan Grayson.
You have OCD, http://youhaveocd.com/free-articles/. Some useful free articles on overcoming OCD.
OCD Online, http://www.ocdonline.com/. OCD resources by Dr. Steven Phillipson.
When Worry Hijacks The Brain, http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,1649303-1,00.html. An interesting article in TIME Magazine by Jeffrey Kluger.
CBT Worksheets for Therapists, http://www.psychologytools.org/download-therapy-worksheets.html. Down load free worksheets to help your CBT activities.