Center for the Treatment & Study of Anxiety
3535 Market Street, 6th Floor
Philadelphia, PA 19104
Phone: 215-746-3327
Web: www.anxietystudycenter.org

Taboo Thoughts

Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder

Taboo thoughts in OCD are often called forbidden or unacceptable thoughts. Individuals with this subtype experience unwanted, intrusive obsessions about behaviors or images that they believe are wrong or immoral. Such thoughts might be about:

sexually molesting children
physically injuring loved ones
attacking strangers
exposing oneself in a public place
doubts about one's sexual orientation

Individuals with OCD who have these types of thoughts and urges do not typically have a history of violence. These thoughts are extremely anxiety provoking, however. Sufferers tend to view them as very dangerous and devote a lot of their time and energy trying to suppress them by using mental rituals such as:

mentally "cancelling out" bad thoughts by replacing them with good thoughts
praying excessively
seeking reassurance from others
arguing with oneself about one's own morality

People with "Taboo Thoughts" also tend to avoid situations that may trigger their unwanted urges. For example, someone whose taboo thoughts surround child molestation might not visit nieces and nephews for fear of hurting them.

Torment's Intensive Carer

Penetrating methods make Dr. Edna Foa a leader in treating post-traumatic stress. Read the article in the Philadelphia Inquirer by Stacey Burling

Dr. Edna Foa named TIME 100 Most Influential

TIME magazine named Edna Foa, PhD, to the magazine's annual list of the 100 most influential people in the world. Dr. Foa was recognized for her outstanding contributions in the area of treatment research for posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD).

Take The OCD Self Test

The Obsessive-Compulsive Inventory, short form (OCI-R) is a reliable and valid self-report measure of OCD symptoms. This measure was developed by OCD experts at the Center for the Treatment and Study of Anxiety. Take our OCD Online Test.

Titles by Our Faculty

Stop Obsessing! by Drs. Edna Foa and Reid Wilson includes step-by-step programs for both mild and severe cases of OCD and the most effective ways to help you let go of your obsessions and gain control over your compulsions.