Compulsive Acts

Aboujaoude is a UC Berkeley-educated board-certfied psychiastrist at Stanford who treats patients with impulse control issues, including obsessive-compulsive disorder, comulsive sexuality, kleptomania, and pathological gambling. His patients are compelled to perform, recursively, behaviors that, although harmful, time-consuming, silly, or debilitating, are impossible to resist. Aboujaoude weaves a vivid tapestry of patient stories that offer a touching blend of tragedy and humor (although always underlined by empathy and respect of his patients). Emulating the work of Oliver Sacks and Irviing Yalom, Aboujaoude sheds vivid light on disorders that encompass 10 percent of the general popoulation.