Exam I, Unit 4: OCD

Question 1

Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD)

Answer 1

Disorder characterized by obsessions and compulsions

-Similar across cultures, but obsessions differ
-Usually begins late adolescence/early adulthood

Question 2

Obsessions

Answer 2

Recurrent, persistent, abusive thoughts (ex: germs, aggression, failure to perform)

Question 3

Compulsions

Answer 3

Repetitive behaviors/thoughts that are time consuming and cause distress
-Ppl may cope w/ obsessions w/ compulsions

Question 4

Developmental factors w/ OCD

Answer 4

Adults:
-Most adults w/ OCD display obsessions and compulsions

Children:
-Rituals alone common among children, but remit over time

Older Adults:
-Fewer concerns about symmetry
-Fewer counting rituals
-Greater fear of having sinned
-More handwashing than younger adults

Question 5

OCD-related disorders

Answer 5

Usually marked by compulsions

Question 6

Body Dysmorphic Disorder (BDD)

Answer 6

Excessive preoccupation w/ perceived deficits/flaws in physical appearance

-Perceptions “ugliness” similar to obsessions
-Can have compulsion for reassurance

More prevalent in women

Different levels of insight or delusion, categorized by self-awareness of BDD

Question 7

Hoarding Disorder

Answer 7

Persistent difficulty discarding/parting w/ possessions regardless of actual value
-Distress when trying to discard items

-Symptoms begin childhood/adolescence and increase in severity w/ age

Specifiers: Excessive acquisition (+diff discarding)
Fair to good insight scale

Question 8

Trichotillomania

Answer 8

Repetitive hair pulling resulting in hair loss

-Occurs in response to various emotional experiences

More common in women

Question 9

Excoriation Disorder

Answer 9

Recurrent skin-picking resulting in lesions

-More common among women

Question 10

Impulse Disorders

Answer 10

Disorders that reflect problems with self-control of behavior that may violate rights of others

-Share features w/ OCD and OCD-related disorders
-Considered an addictive behavior

1-Pyromania
2-Kleptomania

Question 11

Pyromania

Answer 11

Deliberately setting fires for pleasure

Triggers: boredom, stress, inadequacy, interpersonal conflict

-Usually fascination fires and associated events

-Onset symptoms: adolescence
-More common men than women

Question 12

Kleptomania

Answer 12

Failure to resist urges to steal items that are not needed

-Compulsion, not necessary
-More prevalent among women

Question 13

Mowrer’s two-factor theory of fear acquisition

Answer 13

For something to cause fear, it has to be paired w/ a painful or punishing experience

Question 14

Behavioral theories

Answer 14

Obsessions start from classical conditioning and are maintained through operant conditioning