Identifications of Symptoms
The famous actor Leonardo Dicaprio is one of the stars who is open about his clinical disorder. He suffers from obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), which is manifested, in this particular case, in the following symptoms. Leonardo experiences mild or moderate compulsions on a regular basis that imply that he has to repeat a certain action to manage an obsession. For instance, the actor shares an example from his childhood, how he stepped on the cracks on the way to school and repeated the action over and over again (D’Arcy-Sharpe). In other examples Leonardo provides, he was feeling an urge to step on every chewing gum stain. Therefore, the actor reports regular compulsions that make the presence of disorder evident.
Possible Causes
There are five types of causes that lead to the development of OCD: genetic, autoimmune-related, behavioral, cognitive, and environmental. Leonardo does not report about ancestors who had the same condition. Simultaneously, no infection or trauma that could potentially lead to OCD happened during his childhood (D’Arcy-Sharpe). It is possible to assume that significant external pressure resulting in intense stress made certain rituals necessary in the actor’s life (What is obsessive-compulsive disorder). This cause seems reasonable, considering that his parents divorced when Leonardo was a toddler, which influenced him during childhood.
Treatment Recommendations
It is possible to outline several recommendations that can reduce the severity of OCD. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) is a method of replacing negative patterns and an unhelpful behavior that enables one to control emotions better and, therefore, not experience frequent obsessions. The exposure and Response Prevention approach (ERP) assists in OCD cycle breaking by helping not to react with compulsions. Finally, mindfulness is a set of techniques that enables achieving a sense of calm and is also known to be useful for individuals suffering from OCD.
Works Cited
“What is obsessive-compulsive disorder?” MedicalNewsToday, Web.
D’Arcy-Sharpe, A. Leonardo Dicaprio’s Battle With OCD. ImpulseTherapy, 2020, Web.