OCD Flashcards
OCD behavioural characteristics
Repetitive compulsions
Compulsions reduce anxiety
OCD emotional characteristics
Distress
OCD and depression
OCD cognitive characteristics
Obsessive thoughts
Insight into excessive anxiety
OCD genetic explanation
Been proposed there’s a genetic explanation to OCD that predisposes some individuals. Development of OCD is at least partly due to genes
Candidate genes AO1
Genes that are implicated in development of OCD
SERT gene (regulates serotonin)
COMT gene (regulates dopamine production)
What is serotonin
Neurotransmitter that facilitates message transfer across synapses
Polygenic AO1
OCD development is not determined by a single gene, but a few.
Taylor (2013) found evidence for up to 230 genes involved in OCD.
OCD diathesis stress model
Can’t say one single gene is responsible for a complex disorder like OCD. Diathesis stress model provides better explanation. Not everyone in a given family gets OCD so there must be additional factors.
Suggests that people gain a vulnerability towards OCD genes but and environmental stressor is also required to trigger the onset of OCD
Lewis’ OCD study
(1936) studied patients with OCD. Found 37% patients had patterns with OCD and 21% had siblings with OCD
Suggests that OCD does run in families and there is a genetic component
Bellodi et al OCD study
(2007) claim genetic factors do play a role in the disorder. Using evidence from twin and family studies- showed close relatives are more likely to develop OCD than distant relatives
OCD genetic explanation AO3 (practical applications)
P- real world applications
E- mapping of genes has led to the hope of reducing disorders such as OCD. Eg. if a parent is a carrier of the SERT gene, the mothers eggs can be screened
T- gives the parents the choice of whether to continue with the fertilisation if the gene is present
OCD genetic explanation AO3 (studies)
P- when using twin studies, we can’t rule out the role of the environment
E- for example, most identical twins likely share the same environment and upbringing. This means that it may infact be the environment that is influencing OCD rather than genetics
T- therefore suggesting g nurture rather than nature for the onset of OCD
OCD genetic explanation AO3 (cause and effect)
P- cause and effect cannot be established
E- this is because we are unsure whether OCD causes differences in neurotransmitter levels or vice versa
T- therefore, causality can’t be established
Neural explanations AO1
The cure that physical and psychological characteristics are determined by behaviour of the nervous system, in particular the brain
There’s evidence from PET scans that people with OCD have abnormalities in their brain
Some cases of OCD may be explained by a reduction in the functioning of serotonin in the brain
Decision making systems AO1
Some cases of OCD, in particular hoarding disorders, seem to be associated with impaired decision making. This may be due to abnormal functioning of the lateral parts of the frontal lobes of the brain
Frontal lobes are responsible for logical thinking and decision making
OCD neural explanation AO3 (PET)
P- research for neural explanations come from brain scanning techniques such as PET scans
E- these provide objective data which is therefore high in validity. However, no system has been found in the brain that always plays a role in OCD
T- this means that we cannot claim to understand the neural mechanisms involved in OCD yet
OCD genetic explanation AO3 (functioning normally)
P- there’s evidence to suggest serotonin transmitters aren’t functioning normally in patients with OCD
E- however this is not the same as saying the abnormal functioning causes the OCD
T- these biological abnormalities could be the result of having OCD- rather than the cause
OCD treatments AO1
Drug therapy aims to increase or decrease level of neurotransmitters in the brain to increase or decrease their activity
SSRI’s: Prozac
What does SSRI stand for
Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor
How do SSRIs work?
Serotonin released from pre synaptic neuron into synapse, then serotonin chemically converts signals from pre to post synaptic neuron. Any surplus serotonin is reabsorbed by the presynaptic neuron where it’s broken down and re used
SSRIS prevent reabsorption and breakdown of serotonin in the presynaptic neuron. This means serotonin levels in the synapse are increased which stimulates the presynaptic neuron
OCD drug therapy AO3 (cost effective)
P- drugs are cost effective and non disruptive
E- drugs are economical compared to psychological treatments like CBT. Using drugs to treat OCD is therefore beneficial to the public health system. Drugs are also non disruptive, patients can take them as part of their everyday life, whereas sessions such as CBT can be disruptive to work schedules
T- this means that drug therapies are likely to be more successful for patients who lack motivation to complete intense psychological treatments
OCD drug therapies AO3 (effective)
P- Soomro et al (2009) found drug therapies to be effective
E- they reviewed studies comparing SSRIs to placebos in the treatment of OCD and concluded that in all 17 studies showed significant better results for SSRI treatments. Typically symptoms reduced by 70% when taking SSRIs
T- this supports the use of biological treatments, particularly SSRIs, for OCD
OCD drug therapy AO3 (long term)
P- drugs are not a long term fix, they don’t cure the ‘problem’ rather just mask the symptoms
E- Maina 2001 found when patients stopped taking their medication, symptoms returned within a few weeks. Whereas, psychological treatments such as CBT may actually ‘cure’ the patient of their OCD
T- therefore, drug therapy may not be the most effective long term solution
OCD drug therapy AO3 (side effects)
P- drugs can have side effects
E- some patients will suffer effects such as indigestion, blurred vision and loss of sex drive. For those taking Clomipramine, side effects are more serious and far more common such as tremors and weight gain. More than one in a hundred becomes aggressive.
T- these factors may reduce the effectiveness because people stop taking the medication
