Biological app to OCD - PSYCHOPATHOLOGY Flashcards
what does OCD stand for
Obsessive Compulsive Disorder
clinical cognitive characteristics of OCD
Obsessive thoughts,
Cognitive coping strategies
Insight
clinical behavioural characteristics of OCD
avoidance
compulsions (repetitive and anxiety relieving)
clinical Emotional characteristics of OCD
Guilt + disgust
Depression
Anxiety + distress
Cycle of OCD
> Obsessive Thought -> Anxiety -> Compulsive beh . -> Temporary relief -
what does the biological app say mental disorders are caused by
malfunctions in the body
2 biological explanations of OCD
-Genetic
-Neural (Biochemistry + Brain structure)
Genetic explanation of OCD
-OCD in genes -passed down from parents
230 candidate genes
Studied using twin studies
Concordance rates are..
what studies are used in OCD biological expl genetic
Twin + Family studies
What did Lewis do (OCD genetics)
-studied OCD patients genetics
-37% had parents with OCD , 21% had siblings with
what do twin studys measure
concordance rates
between which type of twins is concordance rate higher?
monozygotic
OCD is ____ meaning it has many genes coding for it
polygenic
how many different genes code for OCD
waht are they linked to
-230 candidate genes
-serotonin and dopamine
OCD is _____ meaning the origin has different causes - different genes cause different symptoms in different people
aetiologically heterogeneous
2 components of the neural explanation of OCD
-Brain
-Neurotransmitters
Neurotransmitters in OCD
-system of neurons
-synapse contain neurotransmitters
-neurotransmitters -> Chemical messengers
-Serotonin linked to OCD
.Regulates mood
.Low levels = OCD
Brain on OCD
-Lateral frontal lobes responsible for logical functioning and making decisions
-left parahippocampal gyrus responsible for unpleasant emotions
2 genetic eval points of OCD
(+) R.s Nestadt 68% MZ , 31% DZ
(-) Problem with R.s : Twin studies don’t separate nature and nurture . too Holistic, lower validity
what are the three biological treatments for OCD
-SSRIs
-SNRIs
-Tricyclics
waht does SSRI stand for
selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors
(theyre the most commonly used )
what does SNRI stand for
serotonin - noradrenaline reuptake inhibitors
how do SSRIs work
-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
when are SNRIs used
when SSRIs fail to work,
they block serotonin and noradrenaline
when are Tricyclics used
effects
-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
On the whole, OCD can be treated by …
increasing serotonin levels using drugs
