When Religion and Morals Become OCD

Understanding and Treating Scrupulosity

Leslie J. Shapiro

• Publisher: Bloomsbury Academic
• Year: 2023
• ISBN:
  9798216172574
• Edition: 1
• Topic: Psychology
• Subtopic: Abnormal Psychology
• Index: Psychology

This essential resource brings recognition to scrupulosity and moral perfectionism, an often overlooked and misunderstood subtype of Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD). Two to three percent of the global population suffer from OCD. Of that number, approximately five percent of OCD sufferers report having religious or moral obsessions. Scrupulosity, an often under-recognized subtype of OCD, leads those affected to mistake clinical OCD symptoms for committing sins, offending God, or being morally corrupt. Many people with scrupulosity or moral perfectionism turn to clergy for help rather than a mental health professional. This book, authored by a therapist among the most experienced in the world in dealing with this disorder, covers the symptoms, diagnosis, history, development, causes, and treatment of scrupulosity. Intended for students, mental health professionals, and clergy, this essential resource includes the latest theory, research, treatments, and case studies necessary to recognize and destigmatize scrupulosity as well as encourage optimal treatment outcomes and relapse prevention.

Table of contents

• Cover
• Title
• Copyright
• Contents
• Chapter 1: Introduction
• Chapter 2: Social, Cultural, and Historical Views on Religious Behavior: What Is and Is Not OCD
• Chapter 3: Effects of Scrupulosity and Moral Perfectionism on Normal Stage Development
• Chapter 4: Cleanliness Is Next to Godliness: Getting Physically, Spiritually, Morally, and Emotionally Pure
• Chapter 5: Soul Purification: Confession, Prayer, Repentance, Reassurance Seeking, and Still No Mercy or Forgiveness
• Chapter 6: Obsessive Moral Emotions: Demand for Perfection
• Chapter 7: Righteous Eating
• Chapter 8: “Deadly” Sinning: Sexual Obsessions, Mental Adultery, Violence, and Death
• Chapter 9: Saving the Planet: Scrupulous Hoarding and Green Guilt
• Chapter 10: Created This Way: Neurobiology and Evolutionary Overview
• Chapter 11: Treatment and Relief: Behavior Therapy and Cognitive Strategies
• Chapter 12: Clergy Involvement: Soul Crushing or Saving?
• Chapter 13: Supplemental Strategies to Augment Treatment Outcome, Relapse Prevention, and Recovery
• Appendix
• Resources
• Index
• About the Author