Chapter 7: Obsessive-Compulsive Related and Trauma-Related Disorders Flashcards
What is obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD)?
an anxiety disorder involving persistent and uncontrollable thoughts or the performance of certain acts again and again, causing significant distress and interference w/ everyday functioning
What are obsessions?
intrusive, recurring thoughts that seem irrational and uncontrollable to the person experiencing it
What are six types of foci of obsessions in OCD?
- contamination
- responsibility for harm
- sex and morality
- violence
- religion
- symmetry or order
What are compulsions?
repetitive, clearly excessive behaviors or mental acts that a person feels driven to perform to reduce the anxiety caused by obsessive thoughts
What are five common compulsive rituals for those with OCD?
- decontamination
- checking
- repeating routine activities
- ordering/arranging
- mental rituals
Are the habits of compulsive gamblers, eaters, and drinkers considered compulsions?
no - these behaviors are motivated by pleasure; compulsions are motivated by the feeling that something dire will happen if the act is not performed
What is body dysmorphic disorder (BDD)?
a disorder marked by preoccupation w/ an imagined or exaggerated defect in appearance (ex: wrinkles, body hair, nose)
How many hours per day do people w/ BDD think about their appearance?
3-8 hours
What are common compulsive behaviors for those w/ BDD?
- checking appearance in mirror
- comparing appearance to that of others
- asking others for reassurance about their appearance
- using strategies to change or camouflage their appearance
Why do many people with BDD not receive treatment?
- mental health professionals do not ask about these symptoms
- those w/ BDD often feel too ashamed to raise their concerns
Is a preoccupation with only weight or body fat considered BDD?
no - this rules out BDD (is an eating disorder)
What is hoarding disorder?
a disorder in which the person has a compulsive need to acquire objects and extreme difficulty in disposing of those objects
When does animal hoarding usually emerge?
middle age or older
What is the heritability estimate of OCD, hoarding, and BDD?
40 to 50%
What are the fronto-striatal circuits?
neural pathways that connect regions of the frontal cortex and areas of the basal ganglia; these pathways are implicated in obsessive-compulsive disorder
Which three regions of the frontal-striatal circuits are unusually active in people with OCD?
- orbitofrontal cortex
- caudate nucleus
- anterior cingulate
What is the goal of cognitive behavioral theory for OCD?
to understand why a person with OCD continues to show the behaviors or thoughts used to ward off an initial threat well after the threat is gone
What is thought-action fusion?
the tendency to believe that thinking about something is
as morally wrong as engaging in the action or can make the imagined event more likely to occur - contributes in the persistence of obsessions
What is thought suppression?
an attempt to stop a certain thought that has the paradoxical effect of inducing preoccupation w/ that thought - considered to intensify obsessions
What does the cognitive behavioral model suggest about the etiology of hoarding disorders?
people w/ hoarding disorder have poor organizational abilities, unusual beliefs about possessions, and avoidance behaviors
What is the most commonly used medication used for OCD, BDD, and hoarding disorder?
antidepressants
What is the major psychological approach for OCD, BDD, and hoarding disorder?
exposure and response prevention (ERP)
Why is some caution warranted when treating OCD with SSRIs?
SSRIs require more time and higher doses to treat OCD (compared w/ depression)
Why is caution warranted when treating hoarding disorder with antidepressant treatment?
-much research focuses on hoarding symptoms among OCD patients
