Overvalued ideas and obsessions: Some clinical considerations

Obsessional thoughts or "pure" obsessions and overvalued ideation represent two salient phenomena within obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) that rema in somewhat treatment-resistant. Treatment issues regarding these phenomena are discussed in the context of two clients attending a state health commu nity psychiatry clinic. Both clients displayed significant improvement over the course of treatment on measures of OCD and depression. Pertinent issue s are raised concerning the timing of specific treatment components, measur ement processes, and the general direction of treatment research in this ar ea.