Biological Approach To Treating OCD Flashcards
What are the four definitions of abnormality?
1) Statistical Infrequency
2) Deviation from Social Norms
3) Deviation from Ideal Mental Health
4) Failure to Function Adequately
Define Statistical Infrequency
Behaviour that is defined as statistically rare and abnormal if its frequency is more than two standard deviations away from the mean incidence rate represented in a normally-distributed bell curve
Define Deviation from Social Norms
Abnormal behaviour that goes against expectations in a given society/culture
Define Deviation from Ideal Mental Health
Abnormality is that which fails to meet prescribed criteria for psychological normality/wellbeing: eg accurate perception of reality, resistance to stress, etc.
Define Failure to Function Adequately
abnormal behaviour is that which causes person distress/anguish or an inability to cope with everyday life/adaptiveness
What is OCD
Obsessive Compulsive Disorder which is classed as an anxiety disorder which typically begins as young adults who have obsessions (persistent thoughts) and compulsions( repetitive behaviours).
Emotional Characteristics of OCD
both compulsions and obsessions are a source of considerable anxiety and distress and sufferer is aware that their behaviour is excessive and causes feelings of embarrassment and shame
Cognitive Characteristics of OCD
obsessions are recurrent, intrusive thoughts are uncontrollable and perceived as inappropriate creating anxiety cause sense of frightening and embarrassment making individuals not to share their thoughts to others
Behavioural Characteristics of OCD
Compulsive behaviours are performed to reduce anxiety created by obsessions which are repetitive such as washing hands regularly/ checking the door even mental acts such as praying/counting which must be performed
Genetic Explanations to Explaining OCD
COMT GENE, SERT GENE AND DIATHESIS STRESS MODEL
COMT gene
The COMT gene may contribute to OCD. Regulates production of neurotransmitter dopamine. One variation of COMT gene that higher levels of dopamine is most common in patients with OCD compared to patients who don’t have OCD.
SERT Gene
linked to neurotransmitter serotonin and affects the transport of serotonin causing lower levels of serotonin which is also associated with depression and OCD
Neural Explanations to Explaining OCD
Focuses on neurotransmitter as well as brain structures. Neural explanations suggest that abnormal levels of neurotransmitters, in particular serotonin and dopamine, are implicated in OCD.
Neural explanations also suggest that particular regions of the brain, in particular the basal ganglia and orbitofrontal cortex, are implicated in OCD.
Neurotransmitters
The neurotransmitter serotonin is believed to play a role in OCD. Serotonin regulates mood and lower levels of serotonin are associated with mood disorders, such as depression. Furthermore, some cases of OCD are also associated with the reduced levels of serotonin, which may be caused by the SERT gene (see above). Further support for the role of serotonin in OCD comes from research examining anti-depressants, which have found that drugs which increase the level of serotonin are effective in treating patients with OCD.
In addition, the neurotransmitter dopamine has also been implicated in OCD, with higher levels of dopamine being associated with some of the symptoms of OCD, in particular the compulsive behaviours.
Brain Structures
The neural explanation for OCD includes the ‘worry circuit’, in the brain. The two main areas of the brain associated with OCD are the Orbit Frontal Cortex and the caudate nucleus. The OFC is responsible for sending the worry signals, which are picked up by the thalamus and directed around the body. The caudate nucleus is responsible for suppressing some of these worry signals. If the caudate nucleus is not working properly, the worry signals do not get surprised, and a person worries too much this cab cause OCD.
Strengths ( Explaining OCD)
+ One strength of the biological explanation of OCD comes from research from family studies. Lewis (1936) examined patients with OCD and found that 37% of the patients with OCD had parents with the disorder and 21% had siblings who suffered. Research from family studies, like Lewis, provide support for a genetic explanation to OCD, although it does not rule out other (environmental) factors playing a role.
+Further support for the biological explanation of OCD comes from twin studies which have provided strong evidence for a genetic link. Nestadt et al. (2010) conducted a review of previous twin studies examining OCD. They found that 68% of identical twins and 31% of non-identical twins experience OCD, which suggests a very strong genetic component.
Limitations (Explaining OCD)
- One weakness of the biological explanation for OCD is that it ignores other factors and is reductionist. For example, the biological approach does not take into account cognitions (thinking) and learning. Some psychologists suggest that OCD may be learnt through classical conditioning and maintained through operant conditioning stimulus (for example, dirt) is associated with anxiety and this association is then maintained through operant conditioning, where a person avoids dirt and continually washes their hands. This hand washing reduces their anxiety and negatively reinforces their compulsions.
- Too many candidate genes = With over 230 candidate genes each individually coding for an increased risk of OCD, then this poses a practical issue in that it is difficult to assess which candidate genes have the greatest influence and so which genes drug treatments should target. Thus, such an explanation is likely to have little predictive value in the future.
SSRI
The most commonly used drugs to treat OCD as well as depression are antidepressants. Low levels of serotonin is associated with depression as well as OCD. Low levels of serotonin are implicated in the worry circuit linked to the structure of the brain so increasing levels of serotonin therefore may normalise circuit.
Antidepressants are used to reduce anxiety associated with OCD. SSRI are currently a preferred drug to treating OCD. These increase levels of serotonin regulating mood and anxiety.
How SSRI works
Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) act on the serotonin system by preventing the reuptake and breaking down of serotonin by the presynaptic neuron. Thus, the concentration of serotonin within the synapse increases, causing the post-synaptic neuron to be continually stimulated.
