Fake poop and rubber hands may sound like the punchline of a slapstick comedy jest , but it also may pave the way for treatment in people name with obsessive - compulsive disorder ( OCD ) , a neurological condition responsible for “ huge suffering worldwide . ”
The discourse involves a rubber hand and a whole bunch of fake poop . The investigator say that its humourous tendency may even assist to make the therapy a winner . It builds on the “ condom hand illusion , ” whereby a person places both hands in front of them on a tabular array with a partition in the middle so that they can not see their real hand but rather – you opine it – a faux rubber hired man . An experimenter will then stroke both the fake and secret hand for a period of time until the individual begin to report a sense of “ feel ” on the simulated hand , generally within several minute .
Researchers place 29 field of study participant diagnosed with OCD , an admittedly modest sample size , into two groups for a period of deal - stroking . After five minutes , the answerer was demand to grade how much they find like the hired hand was their own . The experimenter then conduct a tissue and rub fake poo over the safe hand while simultaneously dabbing a damp towel on the respondent ’s real bridge player to mime the touch . In a second form , stern was left on the phoney hand of participant in the observational group and wipe light in the controller mathematical group while the stroking commenced . A full explanation of the report is available in the journalFrontiers in Human Neuroscience .
By the terminal of the experimentation , those in the experimental radical reported feeling less sick and anxious while resisting the urge to wash their work force immediately . It is authoritative to note that the experiment did not include people not diagnose with OCD , a limitation that researchers hope to address in the future tense .
“ Over clip , stroke the veridical and fake hand in synchronicity appear to produce a strong and stronger and impregnable illusion to the extent that it finally feel very much like their own helping hand , ” said Baland Jalal , a neuroscientist based in the Department of Psychiatry at the University of Cambridge , in astatement . “ This meant that after ten minute , the reaction to contamination was more extreme . Although this was the pointedness our experimentation terminate , research has render that continued exposure chair to a downslope in contamination feelings – which is the basis of traditional exposure therapy . ”
The pencil eraser hand creates an illusion that the eubstance is being exposed to contamination in a “ simple and fair to middling ” way that alleviate a patient into therapy , the researchers indicate . It even helps a person with OCD “ laugh at first ” before diving into therapy . By comparison , OCD intervention is normally address with medications like Prozac or through exposure therapy , such as recount a patient to touch contaminated surfaces , like a toilet , and restrain from washing their hand . For some , this treatment can be stressful and unbearable . An estimated one - in - four patients with OCD will not even begin such therapies because it is too anxiety - inducing .
“ OCD can be an extremely debilitating condition for many people , but the intervention are not always straightforward , ” explicate Jalal . “ In fact , photograph therapy can be very stressful and so is not always effectual or even viable for many patient role . ”
One in 50 the great unwashed around the man is affected by OCD . Almost half of all patient with OCD exhibit symptoms characterized by severe fears of contamination , which can go to excessive and irrational behaviour , thoughts , or impulses , according to theWorld Health Organization . Beyond OCD , an organization dedicated to understanding OCD , mention that the condition can go to detrimental impacts on personal relationship , well - being , and professional path .
