The Christian Psychologist: Mental Health for 21st Century Christ Followers

Episode 46: Compulsivity

Episode Summary

In this 46th episode, Dr. Knabb explores the topic of compulsivity in the secular psychology literature, along with similar terms in Christianity, including temptations and sin. He also explores solutions to compulsivity, such as nonattachment with mindfulness and detachment with the Jesus Prayer. To conclude, Dr. Knabb guides the listener through a short practice in an effort to cultivate Christian detachment in response to compulsivity.

Episode Notes

References

APA Dictionary of Psychology. (n.d.). Compulsion. https://dictionary.apa.org/compulsion

Borgogna, N. C., Garos, S., Meyer, C. L., Trussell, M. R., & Kraus, S. W. (2022). A review of behavioral interventions for compulsive sexual behavior disorder. Current Addiction Reports, 9(3), 99-108.

Bowen, S., Chawla, N., & Marlatt, G. (2010). Mindfulness-based relapse prevention for addictive behaviors: A clinician’s guide. The Guilford Press.

Capuzzi, D., & Stauffer, M. (2012). Foundations of addiction counseling (2nd ed.). Pearson Education, Inc.

Harmless, W. (2004). Desert Christians: An introduction to the literature of early monasticism. Oxford University Press.

Hook, R. W., Grant, J. E., Ioannidis, K., Tiego, J., Yücel, M., Wilkinson, P., & Chamberlain, S. R. (2021). Trans-diagnostic measurement of impulsivity and compulsivity: A review of self-report tools. Neuroscience & Biobehavioral Reviews, 120, 455-469.

Kempis, T. (2003). The imitation of Christ. Dover Publications.

Knabb, J. (2021). Christian meditation in clinical practice: A four-step model and workbook for therapists and clients. InterVarsity Press.

Muela, I., Navas, J. F., Ventura-Lucena, J. M., & Perales, J. C. (2022). How to pin a compulsive behavior down: A systematic review and conceptual synthesis of compulsivity-sensitive items in measures of behavioral addiction. Addictive Behaviors, 134, 107410.

Pseftogianni, F., Panagioti, M., Birtwell, K., & Angelakis, I. (2023). Mindfulness interventions for obsessive–compulsive and related disorders: A systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials. Clinical Psychology: Science and Practice. Advance online publication.

Shonin, E., & Van Gordon, W. (2016). The mechanisms of mindfulness in the treatment of mental illness and addiction. International Journal of Mental Health and Addiction, 14, 844-849.

Tiego, J., Trender, W., Hellyer, P. J., Grant, J. E., Hampshire, A., & Chamberlain, S. R. (2023). Measuring compulsivity as a self-reported multidimensional transdiagnostic construct: Large-scale (N = 182,000) validation of the Cambridge–Chicago Compulsivity Trait Scale. Assessment. Advance online publication.

Upper Room Dictionary. (2003). Detachment. Upper Room Books.

Upper Room Dictionary. (2003). Sin. Upper Room Books.

Ware, K. (1974). Power of the name: The Jesus prayer in Orthodox spirituality. SLG Press.