Explaining OCD

Question 1

What are cognitive characteristics of depression?

Answer 1

Obsessive thoughts-recurrent and intrusive thoughts relating to a particular situation possibly seen as inappropriate or forbidden
Insight into excessive behaviour-aware of their irrational or excessive behaviour but still ignore it

Question 2

What are emotional characteristics of depression?

Answer 2

Anxiety and distress-OCD is characterized by overpowering anxiety resulting in obsessions’ and the need to fulfill the compulsions
Guilt and disgust-Aware behaviour is excessive resulting negative emotions such as shame.

Question 3

What are behavioral characteristics of depression?

Answer 3

Compulsions-May feel need to repeat certain ritual/behaviour over and over again in order to reduce anxiety.
avoidance-Staying away from item/situation that triggers their feared response to help reduce anxiety.

Question 4

SERT gene

Answer 4

-Regulates transmission of the neurotransmitter serotonin in the brain.
-Lower/porter transmission=reduced serotonin levels linking to OCD

Question 5

COMT gene

Answer 5

Produces enzymes that reduce/regulate the function of dopamine in the brain
mutated individuals with OCD produces les enzymes=increased dopamine.

Question 6

Pauls study (2015)

Answer 6

Higher chance of OCD if the individual first degree relative has OCD(10%) compared to general population(2%)
So some people are genetically prone to it.

Question 7

What are candidate genes ?

Answer 7

Researchers have identified genes which are suggested to create vulnerability.

Question 8

What is a polygenic gene

Answer 8

Vulnerability to disorder=combination of genes not one single gene.

Question 9

What is Aetiologically heterogeneous?

Answer 9

Different types of genes
OCD have been found to be a result of different genes of particular genetic coding

Question 10

What is sertonin

Answer 10

regulates mood

Question 11

What happens when people have low serotonin levels?

Answer 11

Affects how mood related information is transmitted in the brain causing high levels of anxiety and impulsivity(OCD sufferers)

Question 12

What is dopamine?

Answer 12

Linked to many aspects of behaviour

Question 13

What happens if dopamine levels are too high?

Answer 13

Compulsive behaviour
May experience a rewarding sensation causing a repetition of ritualistic behaviours

Question 14

What is the candidate nucleus’ responsibility?

Answer 14

Interprets worry signals sent from the OFC(orbitofrontal cortex) to the thalamus which then returns signals back to the OFC
When worry is addressed the OFC is turned of.

Question 15

What happens in the worry signal when someone has OCD?

Answer 15

-Have damaged/dysfunctional worry signals which fails to suppress minor worry signals meaning the thalamus is alerted to often
-Activity in OFC is heightened to often so abnormally amount of high worry signals
-Worry signals are harder to switch of so even if individual has addressed the worry, this is not sufficient enough to reduce the worry impulse.