OCD Flashcards
What are the behavioural characteristics of OCD?
Compulsions are repetitive - one feels compelled to repeat behaviour e.g. hand washing
Compulsions reduce anxiety - most compulsions performed to lower anxiety produced by obsessions
Avoidance - keeping away from situations that trigger anxiety
What are the emotional characteristics of OCD?
Anxiety and distress - comes with obsessions + compulsions
Accompanying depression - low mood + lack of enjoyment in activities
Guilt and disgust - over minor issues / self
What are the cognitive characteristics of OCD?
Obsessive thoughts - unpleasant recurring of thoughts
Cognitive strategies to deal with obsessions - can help manage anxiety but make sufferer seem abnormal to others
Excessive anxiety - catastrophic thoughts about worst case scenarios
Outline the biological approach of genetic explanations of OCD
Lewis:
Of OCD patients, 37% had parents with it and 21% had siblings with it - genetic vulnerability passed through generations
Diathesis stress model:
Certain genes leave some people more likely to suffer disorder but not definite - environmental stress needed to trigger condition
Taylor:
Reviewed previous studies - found up to 230 different genes involved with OCD - polygenic
OCD is aetiologically heterogenous - one group of genes may cause OCD for one person but different group for another
Evaluate the biological approach of genetic explanations of OCD (1+)
+
Supporting evidence - some vulnerable due to genetic make up
Nestadt reviewed previous twin studies
68% of M twins shared OCD / 31% D twins shared it - M twins higher rate than D twins suggests there is genetic influence to OCD
Explanation’s status + importance elevated
Evaluate the biological approach of genetic explanations of OCD (2-)
_
Too many candidate genes
Difficult to pin down all genes involved as shown by Taylor’s research
This is because each genetic variation only increases OCD by a fraction + with many candidate genes its hard to find definitive genetic cause of OCD
Reduced usefulness of explanation - little predicative value
Evaluate the biological approach of genetic explanations of OCD (3-)
_
Environmental risk factors can trigger OCD (diathesis stress model)
Research shows more than 1/2 of patients had traumatic event in past + OCD more severe in those with more than one trauma
OCD cannot be entirely genetic in origin in all cases
Better to focus on environmental causes - we can do more about these
Outline the biological approach of neural explanations of OCD
How genes associated with OCD are likely to affect levels of key neurotransmitters in brain
Low serotonin = normal transmission of mood relevant info does not take place
Impaired decision making e.g. hoarding disorder -linked with abnormal functioning of lateral parts of frontal lobes - responsible for logical thinking + making decisions
People with OCD - Basal Ganglia damaged - unable to filter minor concerns from OFC so they reach Thalamus - sends signals back to OFC - worry circuit begins until compulsion has been acted on to provide temporary anxiety relief
Evaluate the biological approach of neural explanations of OCD (1+)
+
Supporting evidence concepts play role in OCD
SSRIs / Tricyclics work on increasing serotonin levels in body - effective in reducing symptoms of OCD
Suggests serotonin system involved in OCD
Evaluate the biological approach of neural explanations of OCD (2 -)
_
Based on assumption that neural mechanisms cause OCD
Serotonin / dopamine do not function normally in OCD patients
Not same as claiming this abnormal function causes OCD - could be a result of OCD instead (low serotonin = OCD / OCD = low serotonin)
Serious limitation - unaware of cause + effect relationship
Outline the biological approach to treating OCD
Low levels of serotonin cause OCD
Treat this with Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors (SSRIs) e.g. Fluoxetine 20mg
Make body feel that there is more serotonin by stopping process of reuptake (serotonin going back to the pre-synaptic neurone) by blocking some receptor sites on pre-synaptic neuron
Alternates to SSRIs are SNRIs + Tricyclics
Evaluate the biological approach to treating OCD (1+)
+
Drug therapy is effective
Soomro reviewed studies comparing SSRI’s and placebos for OCD treatment
All 17 studies show significantly better results for SSRIs
Symptoms reduced for around 70% of patients - can help most patients
Evaluate the biological approach to treating OCD (2+)
+
Cost effective and non disruptive
Cheap compared to psych treatment - good for NHS and economy
SSRIs are non disruptive - take drugs till symptoms decrease + not engage with hard work of psych therapy
Approved by doctors and patients
Evaluate the biological approach to treating OCD (3-)
_
Side effects
Some may suffer indigestion, blurred vision etc but usually temporary
Those taking Clomipramine - more serious + common effects - more than 1 in 10 suffer e.g. weight gain + more than 1 in 100 suffer e.g disruption to blood pressure
Factors reduce effectiveness - people stop taking drugs
