Millions of people worldwide suffer from the symptoms of obsessive-compulsive disorder. Every day they spend hours practicing their elaborate rituals in order to try to reduce their anxiety. For many, their compulsions has become a hated, but seemingly indispensable companion on their desperate search for security. Written by a psychologist, a specialist and a journalist, this accessible book explains the current state of research and the most successful therapeutic approaches. Detailed descriptions of individual coping strategies encourage those who are afflicated to explore ways in which to end their obsessive-compulsive behavior, rather than continuing in a familiar but rigid pattern of repeated thoughts or actions.