Biological app to OCD - PSYCHOPATHOLOGY

Question 1

what does OCD stand for

Answer 1

Obsessive Compulsive Disorder

Question 2

clinical cognitive characteristics of OCD

Answer 2

Obsessive thoughts,
Cognitive coping strategies
Insight

Question 3

clinical behavioural characteristics of OCD

Answer 3

avoidance
compulsions (repetitive and anxiety relieving)

Question 4

clinical Emotional characteristics of OCD

Answer 4

Guilt + disgust

Depression

Anxiety + distress

Question 5

Cycle of OCD

Answer 5

> Obsessive Thought -> Anxiety -> Compulsive beh . -> Temporary relief -

Question 6

what does the biological app say mental disorders are caused by

Answer 6

malfunctions in the body

Question 7

2 biological explanations of OCD

Answer 7

-Genetic
-Neural (Biochemistry + Brain structure)

Question 8

Genetic explanation of OCD

Answer 8

-OCD in genes -passed down from parents
230 candidate genes
Studied using twin studies
Concordance rates are..

Question 9

what studies are used in OCD biological expl genetic

Answer 9

Twin + Family studies

Question 10

What did Lewis do (OCD genetics)

Answer 10

-studied OCD patients genetics
-37% had parents with OCD , 21% had siblings with

Question 11

what do twin studys measure

Answer 11

concordance rates

Question 12

between which type of twins is concordance rate higher?

Answer 12

monozygotic

Question 13

OCD is ____ meaning it has many genes coding for it

Answer 13

polygenic

Question 14

how many different genes code for OCD
waht are they linked to

Answer 14

-230 candidate genes

-serotonin and dopamine

Question 15

OCD is _____ meaning the origin has different causes - different genes cause different symptoms in different people

Answer 15

aetiologically heterogeneous

Question 16

2 components of the neural explanation of OCD

Answer 16

-Brain

-Neurotransmitters

Question 16

Neurotransmitters in OCD

Answer 16

-system of neurons
-synapse contain neurotransmitters
-neurotransmitters -> Chemical messengers
-Serotonin linked to OCD
.Regulates mood
.Low levels = OCD

Question 17

Brain on OCD

Answer 17

-Lateral frontal lobes responsible for logical functioning and making decisions

-left parahippocampal gyrus responsible for unpleasant emotions

Question 18

2 genetic eval points of OCD

Answer 18

(+) R.s Nestadt 68% MZ , 31% DZ
(-) Problem with R.s : Twin studies don’t separate nature and nurture . too Holistic, lower validity

Question 19

what are the three biological treatments for OCD

Answer 19

-SSRIs
-SNRIs
-Tricyclics

Question 20

waht does SSRI stand for

Answer 20

selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors

(theyre the most commonly used )

Question 21

what does SNRI stand for

Answer 21

serotonin - noradrenaline reuptake inhibitors

Question 22

how do SSRIs work

Answer 22

-prevents reabsorption of serotonin at the synapse
-increases levels of serotonin in the synapse, meaning it keeps on working to stimulate the post synaptic neuron
-After a number of weeks, higher level will increase mood

Question 23

when are SNRIs used

Answer 23

when SSRIs fail to work,

they block serotonin and noradrenaline

Question 24

when are Tricyclics used

effects

Answer 24

-older type of antidepressants
-have same effects on serotonin as SSRIs but more strong
-can have severe side effects than SSRIs, so kept as final response

Question 25

On the whole, OCD can be treated by …

Answer 25

increasing serotonin levels using drugs