Obsessive Compulsions

C. Thomas Gualtieri is a neuropsychiatrist and founding director of the North Carolina Neuropsychiatry Clinics. He is a Distinguished Life Fellow of the American Psychiatric Association.

• 1. The Great Detectives; 2. What if Anything is OC; 3. The Problem With Types; 4. Banana Man; 5. The Count; 6. Habit System; 7. Fussy Men; 8. Dirt is Good For you; 9. Poison; 10. Controlling Men; 11. Amydalomania; 12. OC Chemistry; 13. Brain Control; 14. Controlling Children; 15. Detection; 16. Innocents; 17. Duckrabbit; 18. Social Brain; 19. Aspergites; 20. The OC Loop; 21.Theory of Autism; 22. Six Degrees of Kevin Bacon; 23. Indolent Men; 24. Zero Point Zero; 25. ADD or OC; 26. Future

In a time when representations of OCD feature heavily in the media and it has almost become fashionable to claim 'I am a little bit OCD', Dr Gualtieri's novel offers a frank and illuminating alternative perspective. Through clever use of personal anecdotes and reflection on theory and practice, he seamlessly juxtaposes science with satire to illustrate the obsessive compulsive trait whilst clearly differentiating it from the often disabling disorder. As a professional working with OCD and anxiety disorders, as well as an individual who can definitely identify with the 'OC trait', I found this to be a thoroughly enjoyable read offering equal measure of edification and amusement.