OCD

Question 1

2 behavioural characteristics

Answer 1

Compulsive behaviour (repetitive and reduce anxiety) and avoidance of triggers

Question 2

2 emotional characteristics

Answer 2

Anxiety and depression

Question 3

2 cognitive characteristics

Answer 3

Obsessive thoughts and being hyper vigilant

Question 4

Biological approach to explaining OCD- family history

Answer 4

Lewis looked at the family history of his OCD patients and 37% had parents with OCD and 21% had siblings with OCD. This suggests passing on genetic vulnerability.

Question 5

Biological approach to explaining OCD-Diathesis stress

Answer 5

The diathesis stress model shows people gain a vulnerability towards OCD through genes but and environmental stressor is also required.

Question 6

The biological approach to explaining OCD- the COMT gene

Answer 6

The COMT gene creates an enzyme that regulates dopamine in the brain. High levels of dopamine = OCD.

Question 7

The biological approach to explaining OCD - the SERT gene

Answer 7

The SERT gene creates a protein that removes serotonin and recycles it. Low serotonin = OCD.

Question 8

The biological approach to explaining OCD-Neural explanation

Answer 8

If the basal ganglia is hypersensitive, it gives rise to repetitive motor behaviours seen in OCD.

Question 9

Treating OCD- what are SSRIs?

Answer 9

Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors. They increase serotonin levels by preventing re-absorption of serotonin by the pre-synaptic neutron.

Question 10

Treating OCD- combining SSRIs with other treatments

Answer 10

They’re often used with CBT so that the patient can engage with CBT when they have reduced emotional symptoms.

Question 11

Treating OCD- alternatives to SSRIs

Answer 11

Dose can be increased or combined with other drugs if it’s not effective.

• Tricyclics have the same effect on serotonin but more side effects
• SNRIs increase serotonin and noradrenaline

Question 12

Genetic explanations

Strength- research support

Answer 12

Nestadt conducted a meta-analysis of twin studies and found a concordance rate of 68% for identical twins with OCD as opposed to 31% for non-identical twins. However if it was genetics alone that caused OCD then it would be 100%.

Question 13

Genetic explanations

Weakness- identity confusion with twins

Answer 13

Twins are often treated as one person in twin studies and it can lead to identity confusion and we don’t know if the genes or environment are causing OCD.

Question 14

Genetic explanations

Weakness- little predictive value

Answer 14

Having OCD genes is not enough to say if someone will have OCD. Environmental factors like having trauma should be considered too.

Question 15

Neural explanations

Strength- effective SSRIs

Answer 15

Drugs that are used to treat OCD work by increasing serotonin levels. This shows the principles of the biological approach are valid because they say OCD is caused by low serotonin.

Question 16

Neural explanations

Strength- research support

Answer 16

Cavedini found that people with OCD showed abnormal functioning in their frontal lobes in comparison to a non-OCD control group. The supports the ideas on the basal ganglia.

Question 17

Neural explanations

Weakness- cause and effect can’t be established

Answer 17

We can’t be sure if the damanage to the brain area causes OCD or if having OCD effects how the brain area functions. There is just a correlation between neural abnormality and OCD so both could be influenced by a 3rd variable.

Question 18

Treatments for OCD

Strength- research support

Answer 18

Both SRIs and SSRIs are effective forms of treatment. Soomoro reviewed studies comparing SSRIs to placebos and the SSRIs were more effective.

Question 19

Treatments for OCD

Weakness- therapy may be more effective

Answer 19

Therapy leads to a lower relapse rate (perhaps because patients forget to take the drugs). Simpson found after 12 weeks, almost half of drug patients relapsed but only 12% of therapy patients relapsed.

Question 20

Treatments for OCD

Strength- drugs are more convient

Answer 20

Drugs remain the most common treatment for OCD even though they have drawbacks. They are cheap, easy to take and font involve giving up time for therapy sessions.