OCD Flashcards
OCD
Obsessive thinking and repetitive behaviour
Obsession - internal component something your think e.g intrusive thoughts
Compulsion - external component repetitive behaviour e.g something you do to reduce anxiety
Behavioural characteristics
Compulsion - repetitive behaviour to reduce anxiety e.g hand washing has to be done or something bad will happen
Avoidance - avoided situations that trigger anxiety can interfere with everyday life
Emotional characteristics
Anxiety and distress - associated with compulsion and obsession
Guilt and disgust - germs is common rise if feeling of disgust individual no it’s excessive cause embarrassment and shame
Cognitive characteristics
Obsession - recurring intrusive thoughts perceived as inappropriate/forbidden
Cognitive strategies - help deal with obsession can’t distract from everyday living
Insight into excessive anxiety - aware obsession not rational still think worse anxiety is justified
Genetic explanation
OCD genes passed from parents to offspring by inheriting specific candidate gene make people vulnerable
Comt - production of dopamine
Sert - lowerd production and movement of serotonin
Suggest ocd Polygenic caused by several genes
Neural explanation 1
Role of neurotransmitters
Responsible for passing electrical signals one Nero to another
Seretionin regulate mood
Low - level of serotonin released into synaptic gap
Normal - serotonin release and re absorbed before they transmitted signal
Problems transmitting mood increase level of anxiety linked to obsessive thoughts
Neural explanation 2
Neuroanatomy
Impaired functioning/communication with party of the brain might explain OCD
Orbitnofrontal Cortex - control decision making impulses logical thinking
Basal ganglia - important role motion muscle action learning habitus behaviour e.g automatic routine behaviour
Strength of biological approach to explaining OCD
Supportive evidence for genetic theory
Nestad - meta analysis twin studies 68% concordance rate MZ twins 31% in DZ twins
Show 2 identical twins had OCD than non identical MZ more likely have OCD gene
Weakness of biological approach to explain OCD
On nature side of debate
Other factors to consider e.g trauma which is environmental show nurture play a role
Need to consider both side of debate
Drug therapies
SSRI is an anti depressant improvs mood reducing anxiety
Increase level serotonin in synapse when being re absorbed
Improve concentration in brain at receptor site
Patient information
SSRI dosage varies
Daily dose is long if increased might not benefit patient
Come in capsule or liquids
Takes 3-4 months have impact
Have drug therapy before CBT
Strength of drug therapies
Cheaper than psychological treatment good value for NHS
Don’t disrupt lives
People pick this treatment easy and cheap option
Weakness of drug therapies
Side effect
Could cause OCD to worsens
Reading side effect put people off
Important people won’t get treated through this feast t and is most reliable
