OCD Flashcards
Behavioural characteristics of OCD
compulsions
repetitive- feel compelled to repeat a behaviour i.e hand washing, counting, praying
reduce anxiety- 10% of OCD paitents show compulsive behaviour alone- no obsessions just irrational anxiety
compulsive behaviours are performed in an attempt to manage the anxiety produced by obsessions
Avoidance- attempt to reduce anxiety by keeping away from situations to trigger it
can lead to ppl avoiding ordinary situations
can interfere with normal life
Emotional characteristics of OCD
anxiety and distress- powerful anxiety that accompanies it
unpleasant and frightening
the urge to repeat the behaviour creates anxiety
Accompanying depression- anxiety can be accompanied by low mood and lack of enjoyment of activities
compulsive behaviour brings temporary relief from anxiety
Guilt and disgust- involves other negative motions
Cognitive characteristics of OCD
obsessive thoughts- 90% suffer
unpleasant
cognitive strategies to deal with obsessions- major concept of OCD
helps manage anxiety
makes the person appear abnormal to others and can distract them from everyday tasks
insight into excessive anxiety- aware their obsessions and compulsions are not rational
experience catastrophic thoughts about the worst case scenarios that might result if their anxieties were justified
tend to be hyper vigilant- maintain constant alertness and keep attention focused on potential hazards
Genetic explanations for OCD
Lewis (1936)- 37% had parents with OCD, 21% had siblings with OCD
-suggests OCD runs in families
- probably the genetic vulnerability that was passed on
according to the diathesis-stress model certain genes mean some people more likely to suffer a mental disorder but it’s not certain
Candidate Genes
identified genes which create vulnerability for OCD, called candidate genes
involved in regulating the development of the serotonin system
OCD is poly-genetic
OCD is not caused by one single gene
Taylor (2013) analysed findings of previous studies and found evidence that up to 230 different genes may be involved in OCD
Different types of OCD
the origin of OCD had different causes
evidence to suggest that different types of OCD may be the result of particular genetic variations, such as hoarding disorder and religious obsessions
Role of serotonin
believed to regulate mood
if a person has low levels of serotonin, then normal transmission of mood-relevant info doesn’t take place and mood are affected
Decision-making systems
impaired decision making
associated with abnormal functioning of the lateral of the frontal lobes of the brain
evidence to suggest that an area called the left parahippocampal gyrus associated with processing unpleasant emotions, functions abnormally in OCD
Genetic Explanations AO3
Supporting evidence
Twin studies
Nestaat et al (2010) reviewed previous twin studies and found that 68% of identical twins shared OCD as opposed to 31% of non-identical twins
Genetic Explanations AO3
Too many candidate genes
psychologists have been unsuccessful at pinning down all the genes involved
appears several genes are involved and that each genetic variation only increases the risk of OCD by a fraction
genetic explanation is unlikely to ever be very useful because it provides little predictive value
Genetic explanations OCD AO3
Environmental risk factors
environmental factors can also trigger OCD or increase the risk
Romer et al 2007- over half of the OCD patients in their sample had a traumatic event in the past and that OCD was more severe in those with more than one trauma
OCD cannot be entirely genetic in origin
May be more productive to focus on the environmental causes because we are more able to do something about these
Neural Explanations AO3
Supporting evidence
some antidepressants work purely on the serotonin system, increasing levels of this neurotransmitter
Some drugs are effective in reducing OCD symptoms and this suggests that the serotonin system is involved in OCD
OCD symptoms form part of a number of other conditions that are biological in origin
suggests that the biological processes that cause the symptoms in those conditions may also be responsible for OCD
Neural Explanations AO3
not clear exactly what neural mechanisms are involved
research has identified other brain systems that may be involved sometimes but no systems has been found that always plays a role in OCD
We cannot therefore really claim to understand the neural mechanisms involved in OCD
Neural Mechanisms AO3
cannot assume the neural mechanisms cause OCD
the evidence suggests that various neurotransmitters and structures of the brain do not function normally in patients with OCD, however, we cannot say it causes it. The biological abnormalities could be a result of OCD rather than its cause
