ocd Flashcards

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1
Q

behavioural characteristics of OCD are

A

compulsions, avoidance of anxiety-inducing situations, reduction in social interactions

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2
Q

emotional characteristics of OCD are

A

anxiety, depression developed

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3
Q

cognitive characteristics of OCD are

A

obsessions, sufferer understands that they are irrational

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4
Q

the genetic explanation says that OCD is

A

inherited

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5
Q

OCD often have - genes

A

COMT and SERT

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6
Q

the COMT gene controls

A

dopamine levels

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7
Q

Tukel (2013) found that

A

high levels of dopamine were common in OCD sufferers

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8
Q

what is serotonin’s function

A

to regulate anxiety

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9
Q

the SERT gene controls

A

the transport of serotonin

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10
Q

Ozaki (2003) found that

A

OCD sufferers may have a SERT mutation leading to lower serotonin levels

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11
Q

the neural explanation for OCD explains how

A

neurotransmitter levels lead to OCD

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12
Q

dopamine levels are - and serotonin levels are - in OCD sufferers

A

high, low

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13
Q

high activity levels in the - of the brain are associated with OCD

A

orbital frontal cortex (OFC)

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14
Q

the function of the OFC is to

A

send worry signals to the thalamus, leading to an impulse to act

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15
Q

the function of the caudate nucleus is to

A

suppress impulses from the OFC

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16
Q

the caudate nucleus may not be functioning, meaning that

A

OCD could be caused as sufferers have overactive impulses for minor threats

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17
Q

comer (1998) found that

A

serotonin levels can cause these areas of the brain to malfunction

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18
Q

pauls (2005)

A

found that 10% of OCD sufferers have a 1st degree relative with OCD

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19
Q

the overall biological explanation for OCD is that…

A
  1. genes cause OCD, as shown in Pauls (2005) study where 10% of those with OCD had a relative with OCD
  2. COMT and SERT genes cause high dopamine levels and low levels of serotonin
  3. Tukel (2013) found that high levels of dopamine were common in OCD sufferers
  4. Ozaki (2003) found that many OCD sufferers have a SERT mutation leading to low levels of serotonin
  5. OCD have high levels of OFC activity, which aren’t being surpressed by the caudate nucleus
  6. Comer (1998) found that serotonin levels interfere with these areas
  7. overall COMT and SERT genes cause high dopamine and low serotonin, low serotonin means that the caudate nucleus doesn’t suppress enough signals from the OFC, causing people to worry irrationally and causing OCD
20
Q

different genes cause OCD in different people; it is

A

aetiologically heterogeneous

21
Q

Taylor (2013) found that

A

up to 230 genes are associated with OCD

22
Q

a strength of the biological explanation for OCD is that it has good supporting

A

research evidence from twin studies, including Pauls (2005), where 10% of OCD sufferers had OCD, and Nestadt (2010) found that MZ twins had 68% concordance as opposed to 31% in DZ twins

23
Q

what did Nestadt find and when

A

2010, MZ twins had 68% concordance in OCD as opposed to 31% in DZ twins

24
Q

a strength of the biological approach to explain OCD is that SSRIs

A

have been proven to treat OCD by Soomro (2009), suggesting the biological approach has successfully identified serotonin levels being low is a cause of OCD

25
Q

what did Soomro find and when

A

2009, 70% of people on SSRIs have a reduction in OCD symptoms

26
Q

a weakness of the biological approach to explain OCD is that the genetic explanation is supported by twin studies,

A

which lack validity as twins have a shared environment, MZ twins may have higher concordance as they have more similar experiences, not due to genes

27
Q

a weakness of the biological approach to explain OCD is that many OCD sufferers

A

have undergone traumatic experiences; Cromer (2007) found that over 50% of OCD sufferers had undergone trauma, so it may be that OCD is caused by traumatic experiences not by biology

28
Q

what did Cromer find and when

A

2007, over 50% of OCD sufferers had undergone trauma

29
Q

SSRI stands for

A

serotonin reuptake inhibitor

30
Q

SSRIs are usually prescribed alongside

A

CBT

31
Q

if SSRIs don’t work in 3 months,

A

their dosage is increased and they can be combined with tricyclics and SNRIs

32
Q

SSRIs assume a

A

chemical imbalance

33
Q

serotonin is released by

A

presynaptic neurons

34
Q

where do we find presynaptic neurons

A

in the brain

35
Q

after being released by presynaptic neurons, serotonin travels

A

across the synapse

36
Q

after travelling across the synapse, serotonin binds to

A

receptor sites on the postsynaptic neurons

37
Q

serotonin binding to receptor sites on the postsynaptic neurons has the effect of

A

conveying the signal across the synapse

38
Q

after conveying the signal across the synapse, serotonin is

A

reabsorbed to be broken down by the presynaptic neuron

39
Q

SSRIs prevent the

A

reabsorption and break down of serotonin, increasing serotonin levels in the synapse

40
Q

a strength of the biological approach to treat OCD is that we have good

A

supporting evidence as 70% of OCD sufferers had a reduction in symptoms

41
Q

what % of sufferers of OCD had some improvement in their symptoms on SSRIs?

A

70

42
Q

a strength of SSRIs is that they are

A

cost effective

43
Q

a weakness SSRIs is that supporting research for them is

A

provided by the drug companies who manufacture them, so they may be biased

44
Q

a weakness f SSRIs is that they have a

A

higher relapse rate than CBT in 12 weeks

45% on SSRIs, 12% on CBT

45
Q

what % of people on SSRIs relapse after 12 weeks

A

45

46
Q

what % of people on CBT relapse after 12 weeks

A

12