Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder

Question 1

Diagnostic Criteria of OCD

Answer 1

The demonstration of obsessive or compulsive behaviours (can be either one)
The behaviours are distressing, and also time consuming (> 1 hr per day)
Specify if
> Good insight
> Poor insight
> No insight/delusional

Question 2

Explain what obsession is

Answer 2

Ideas, thoughts, images that are intrusive and inappropriate that cause significant distress
Patients can acknowledge the present of the thoughts
The line between obsession and psychosis can be hard to draw in the sense that both include distressing delusional ideas and thoughts

Question 3

Explain what compulsive is

Answer 3

Repeating mental or physical behaviours that aim to reduce the level of stress
The behaviours do not necessarily have real meaning

Question 4

what are some of the statistics about OCD

Answer 4

there is no difference between adult male and female
However, child psychopathology shows childhood onset is more common in boys than girls
but female are more likely to be reporting symptoms that are related to OCD

Question 5

What are some of the causes of OCD

Answer 5

genetic predisposition
> mutation of the hSERT gene
environmental influence
Learned responses
Brain structure and neurobiology
> serotonin dysfunction
(dopamine = giving pleasure vs serotonin = controlling the mood)
dysfunction of brain areas related to
> memory, execute functions (planning and decision-making), general organisation skills)

Question 6

What is the cognitive model of OCD and how do intrusive thoughts turn into obsession

Answer 6

people start having intrusive thoughts (normal)
however, patients tend to imply rituals/behaviours to alleviate the level of stress without having a meaning on the behaviour
therefore, over-relying on the behaviour

thoughts turning into obsession
over-valuing the thoughts
highly threatening
requiring complete control of the thought
necessity of gaining high level of certainty to the thought
state of perfection

Question 7

Explain the cognitive process (cognitive characteristics) of BDD and the relationship between BDD and medical interventions

Answer 7

over-valuing appearance
negative rumination of thoughts
distress and discomfort in mirror gazing

relationship between BDD and medical intervention
> likely to be unsatisfied with the outcome (either on the same part or different parts of the body)

Question 8

Cognitive Reasons leading to Hoarding and Triotillomania

Answer 8

responsibility over the object
concern about memory
control over the object

positive mood or looking for arousal