Chapter 3 - Obsessive-compulsive and related disorders

Question 1

Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD)

Answer 1

Anxiety disorder characterised by obsessions and/or compulsions

Question 2

Obsessions

Answer 2

Uncontrollable, persistent thoughts, images, ideas or impulses that an individual feels intrude upon his/her consciousness and that cause significant anxiety or distress.

Question 3

Compulsions

Answer 3

Repetitive behaviours or mental acts that an individual feels s/he must perform.

Question 4

Neuroimaging

Answer 4

Range of techniques used to image the structure and/or function of the brain such as computerised tomography (CT), positron emission tomography (PET) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scans.

Question 5

Basal ganglia

Answer 5

Group of large nuclei in the forebrain; involved in the control of motor behaviour and may be relevant to obsessive-compulsive disorder.

Question 6

Correlation study

Answer 6

Type of study in which researchers assess only the relationship between two variables and do not manipulate one variable to determine its effect on another variable (as in experimental study)

Question 7

Experimental study

Answer 7

Type of study that can address the issue of causality given that the independent variable is directly manipulated so that its effect on the dependent variable can be examined.

Question 8

Cognitive behaviour therapy (CBT)

Answer 8

Type of psychological treatment that combines both cognitive and behavioural concepts and techniques.

Question 9

Exposure and response prevention

Answer 9

Behavioural technique in which the client is (a) exposed to feared stimuli (such as obsessions in obsessive-compulsive disorder), and (b) prevented from utilising any responses (such as compulsions in obsessive-compulsive disorder) aimed at escaping from hi/her anxiety.

Question 10

Behavioural experiment

Answer 10

Cognitive technique in which the client participates in a planned activity in order to test the accuracy of his/her beliefs.

Question 11

Cognitive restructuring

Answer 11

Cognitive technique in which the client learns to identify, challenge and replace his/her dysfunctional beliefs with more realistic or helpful beliefs.

Question 12

Hoarding disorder

Answer 12

Persistent difficulty in discarding possessions, with a high level of distress associated with removing the items.

Question 13

Body dysmorphic disorder

Answer 13

Disorder involving obsessive concern regarding a part of the body the individual believes is defective.

Question 14

Clinically significant

Answer 14

Meaning the disorder causes substantial impairment in social, occupational or other areas of functioning.

Question 15

Trichotillomania

Answer 15

Condition that involves the recurrent pulling out of one’s own hair.

Question 16

Excoriation disorder

Answer 16

Condition that involves recurrent skin picking.