Central and East European
Society for Phenomenology

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179068

Phenomenological investigation of obsessive-compulsive disorder

Martin Bürgy

pp. 45-59

Abstract

This chapter proposes a phenomenological investigation of obsessive-compulsive disorder which progresses from "static understanding', through "genetic understanding' to the "hermeneutic understanding'. The four most important groups are phenomenologically discussed using clinical examples: compulsive checking; compulsive repetition, compulsive orderliness and obsessive thoughts; washing, polishing and cleaning compulsions; and collecting and hoarding. Both in the experience of the person with obsessive-compulsive disorder and in the hermeneutic interpretation of the disorder the fear of death and defense against it, and thus the anthropological dimension of obsessive-compulsive disorder can be recognized.

Publication details

Published in:

Stanghellini Giovanni, Aragona Massimiliano (2016) An experiential approach to psychopathology: what is it like to suffer from mental disorders?. Dordrecht, Springer.

Pages: 45-59

DOI: 10.1007/978-3-319-29945-7_2

Full citation:

Bürgy Martin (2016) „Phenomenological investigation of obsessive-compulsive disorder“, In: G. Stanghellini & M. Aragona (eds.), An experiential approach to psychopathology, Dordrecht, Springer, 45–59.