OCD

Question 1

What are the behavioural characteristics of OCD

theres 2

Answer 1

• Compulsions - repetitive actions to reduce anxiety stemming from obsessions
• Avoidance - attempt to reduce anxiety by avoiding situations that may trigger it

Question 2

What are the emotional characteristics of OCD

theres 2

Answer 2

• Anxiety - stems from awareness of behaviour being excessive and know they can’t control themselves, feeling shame
• Disgust - either at self or at external sources

Question 3

What are the cognitive characteristics of OCD

theres 3

Answer 3

• Obsessions - recurrent intrusive irrational thoughts which cause anxiety
• Awareness of Irrationality - sufferers understand their behaviour and thoughts are inappropriate but they still can’t control it
• Catastrophic Thinking - worried that if they do not carry out compulsion, something bad will happen (irrational)

Question 4

What’re the two biological explanations of OCD & the assumptions

assumptions of the biological explanations

Answer 4

• Genetic explanation
• Neural explanation
• caused by genetic and biochemical factors

Question 5

What is the genetic explanation of OCD

Answer 5

• OCD is classed as polygenic (many candidate genes responsible for causing)
• COMT gene - regulates dopamine production. High dopamine associated w/ OCD.
• Variation of COMT gene that produces higher levels of dopamine is common with OCD patients
• SERT gene - affects transportation of serotonin. Causing lower levels. Low serotonin is linked to OCD

Question 6

What is the neural explanation of OCD

Answer 6

• abnormal levels of neurotransmitters are associated with OCD (dopamine+serotonin)
• high dopamine levels are linked to hyperactivity in the basal ganglia area in the brain (causes compulsions)
• low levels of serotonin in the caudate nucleus in the basal ganglia cause the caudate nucleus to malfunction (causes obsessions)

Question 7

Research Support for genetic explanation

(+) smth about relatives n OCD idk

Nestadt(2000)

Answer 7

found that people with a first degree relative with OCD were five times more likely to have OCD

Question 8

Research Support for genetic explanation

(+) Meta-analysis of 14 twin studies

Billett(1998)

Answer 8

OCD is 2x more likely to be concordant in identical monozygotic twins rather than dizygotic (non identical)

found from a meta-analysis of 14 twin studies

Question 9

(-) smth about concordance rates

weakness for genetic explanation

Answer 9

• Concordance rate in identical twins is not 100%

Thus fails to account psychological and environmental factors

Question 10

(-) Biological approach contradicts with behavioural approach.

Answer 10

Two process model suggests that OCD is learnt via classical conditioning and reinforced through operant conditioning

OCD is often treated with behavioural therapies such as exposure (similar to SD)

Question 11

Strength for neural explanation

(+) Antidepressants work

Answer 11

Antidepressants increase serotonin levels

Has shown reduction in OCD symptoms

Question 12

Strength for neural explanation

(+) Risperidone

Ciccerone(2000)

Answer 12

found giving patients low doses of drug Risperidone to lower dopamine caused symptoms of OCD to alleviate

Question 13

Weakness of neural explanation

(-) Cause n effect

Answer 13

Neurotransmitters may not necessarily cause OCD but rather just a symptom

(low serotonin, high dopamine)

Question 14

Weakness for neural explanation

(-) Co-morbidity

Answer 14

OCD is co morbid with depression

It is unclear if low serotonin causes OCD or depression or both

Link is unclear

Question 15

What is the biological treatment for OCD

Answer 15

• Uses medication to increase/decrease neurotransmitter levels

-general purpose to decrease heart rate, anxiety, low arousal, blood pressure

Question 16

What are selective serotonin re-uptake inhibitors (SSRIs)

Answer 16

• Serotonin release by presynaptic neurons.
  -Travel across synaptic cleft.
• Chemically convey signal from presynpatic neuron to postsynaptic neuron
  -reabsorbed (re-uptake) by presynaptic neuron
  -broken down and reused

SSRIs prevent reabsorption & breakdown of serotonin.
-increase levels in synapse
-continues to stimulate postsynaptic neuron
-reduces anxiety

Question 17

What are benzodiazepines (BZs)

Answer 17

• Anti-anxiety drugs (Valium, diazepam)

Slow activity of CNS by enhancing neurotransmitter GABA (has inhibitory effects on neurons)

• GABA reacts with GABA receptors outside neurons
  -GABA locks into these receptors
  -opens channel to increase chloride ion flow into neuron

Chloride ions make it harder for neuron to be stimulated by other neurotransmitters (slows down neural activity, makes person relaxed)

Question 18

(+) Research support for SSRIs

Soomro(2009)

Answer 18

reviewed 17 studies comparing SSRIs with placebos

-all 17 studies showed SSRIs were more effective especially when combined with CBT

Question 19

(+) SSRIs work

Answer 19

70% of patients that take SSRIs see a decline in symptoms

30% opt for psychological therapies or a combo of both

Question 20

SSRIs weakness

(-) Side effects

Answer 20

Severe side effects meaning they may stop taking it making it ineffective

-Symptoms include indigestion, blurred vision, loss of sex drive

Question 21

(+) Benzodiazepines work

Answer 21

reduce anxiety levels and OCD symptoms quickly, compared to CBT where patient doesn’t experience immediate relief

Question 22

(-) Side effects of benzodiazepines

Answer 22

if used long-term then side effects appear
-side effects include drowsiness, depression, unpredictable interactions with alcohol

Question 23

(-) Becoming dependent on benzodiazepines

Ashton(1997)

Answer 23

found long-term users to become dependent and experience high levels of anxiety + symptoms with withdrawal.

-patients need progressively larger doses to reduce symptoms because tolerance (body gets used to drug)