Addiction, OCD & Eating Disorders Flashcards
What psychological factor drives addiction further to point where it can become out of control?
Persistent state of distress
Therefore, what becomes central to the development of these addictions?
Social context
If someone is isolated they are far more likely to succumb to an addiction rather than if they had a social support network
Give a brief description of addiction
Complex mechanism involving repeated negative reinforcement, persistent states of stress, social context and direct action on neural circuits
What is meant by obsession in psychiatry?
An unbidden, intrusive thought, image, or urge that intrudes into consciousness; attempts to dispel it are difficult and typically lead to anxiety
What is OCD characterised by?
Intrusive thoughts/images and compulsive behaviours
What is the reason for these compulsive behaviours?
Serve to relieve state of anxiety/tension
What are features of obsessions?
Ego-dystonic thoughts
Repetitive, circular ruminations
May be bizarre and sound delusional
Insight maintained
Unbidden and resisted
Resistance leads to anxiety
What are compulsions?
Motor response to obsessional thoughts
Often ritualistic, stereotypes and precise
Start again if interrupted
Give some examples of compulsions?
Handwashing
Counting
Arranging and symmetry
Checking door locks
What are some of the symptoms of eating disorders?
Increasing restriction of diet
Purging
Episodes of laxative abuse
Excessive exercise
When it comes to eating disorders, what might be a source of someone’s low self-worth?
Their body
How could diet restriction lead to bulimia nervosa?
When someone does not stick to their diet restriction, they eat
In the context of low self-worth and anxiety, this eating leads to feelings of failure
The feelings of failure give them intense distress which drives them into a state of purge
This provides temporary relief as they feel as though they are in control of themselves which leads them to eat again
This negative reinforcement cycle continues
How could diet restriction lead to anorexia nervosa and how can this become compulsive?
Diet restriction gives them a sense of control, safety & achievement
Their weight loss may add to these feelings
They then begin to associate eating with failure, unsafety & loss of control
Their weight loss also leads to brain starvation if excessive which in turn leads to cognitive inflexibility
This is a cause of compulsion
How can eating disorders be conceptualised?
Means of reducing intense distress, particularly that associated with feeling everything is out of control
