2021 Volume 47 Issue 1 Pages 33-45
This article provides a case study in which an in-patient in his early 40s, who had obsessive-compulsive disorder and the cardinal symptom of an obsession, underwent intensive imaginal exposure. First, the patient saw an image of being attacked by the aura of a bad person. He became overwhelmed by the anxiety that he himself might become a bad person, owing to which he could not go to work. This patient, who had obsessive-compulsive symptoms (OCS), learned to manage his obsession through Kendo (Japanese fencing) swinging practice. Imaginal exposure was conducted during hospitalization, which improved his OCS. Kendo swinging practice was used to remind the patient of the state of munen musô (being free from all distracting thoughts). When a patient experienced this state in Budo (Japanese martial arts) or sports, a desirable method of dealing with the obsession through practice or training, by repeating the experience, could contribute to improving their OCS. The authors’ approaches are introduced in this paper. This study is useful for readers who are conducting behavior therapy, including imaginal exposure, to relieve OCS.
