OCD Flashcards
What is the definition of OCD?
OCD= obsessive-compulsive disorder
A condition characterised by obsessions and/ compulsive behaviour.
What are the behavioural characteristics of OCD?
Compulsions - feeling compelled to repeat a behaviour, around 10% of sufferers complete these compulsions with no desire to reduce anxiety, however the majority of individuals with OCD compulsive behaviours are performed in an attempt to reduce anxiety.
Avoidance - they attempt to reduce anxiety by keeping away from situations that trigger it.
What are the cognitive characteristics of OCD?
Obsessive thoughts - for around 90% of OCD sufferers the major cognitive feature of their condition is obsessive thoughts.
Cognitive strategies to deal with obsessions - people may respond by adopting cognitive coping strategies
Insight into excessive anxiety - OCD sufferers experience catastrophic thoughts about the worst case scenarios that might results if their anxieties were justified
What are the emotional characteristics of OCD?
Anxiety and distress
Accompanying depression - OCD is often accompanied by depression, so anxiety can often be accompanied by low mood and lack of enjoyment in activities
Guilt and disgust - OCD sometimes involves other negative emotions such as irrational guilt.
What are the biological treatments for OCD? (SSRI’s)
Drug therapy - SSRI’s are a type of antidepressant drug, they work on the serotonin system in the brain.
Serotonin is released by certain neuron in the brain. It is released by presynaptic neurons and travels across a synapse.
The neurotransmitter chemically conveys the signal from the presynaptic neuron to the post synaptic neuron and is then reabsorbed by the presynaptic neuron where it is broken-down and re-used.
By preventing the re-absorption and break-down or serotonin, SSRI’s effectively increases its levels in the synapse and thus continue to stimulate the post synaptic neuron.
What are the biological treatments for OCD?
Drugs are often used alongside CBT to treat OCD.
The drugs reduce the patients emotional symptoms, such as feeling anxious or depressed, this allows them to engage more when in CBT.
