OCD Flashcards
What are the emotional characteristics of OCD
Considerable anxiety and stress.
May be aware that their behaviour is excessive, so may feel embarrassment/shame.
A common obsession concerns germs - leading to feelings of disgust
What are the cognitive characteristics of OCD
Obsessions are recurrent, intrusive thoughts or impulses that are perceived as inappropriate
What are the behavioural characteristics of OCD
Compulsive behaviours are performed to reduce the anxiety created by obsessions.
What is the genetic explanations to explaining OCD
Individuals inherit genes from their parents that are related to the onset of OCD
What is the COMT gene
COMT regulates the production of the neurotransmitter, dopamine that has been implicated in OCD. One form of the COMT gene has been found to be more common in OCD patients. This variation produces lower activity of the COMT gene and higher levels of dopamine
What is the SERT gene
The SERT gene affects the transport of the serotonin. Lower levels of serotonin are implicated in OCD. One study found a mutation of the SERT gene in two families where 6/7 family members had OCD
Describe how the diathesis stress model relates to the genetic explanations of OCD
Each individual gene only creates a vulnerability (diathesis) for OCD as well as other conditions such as depression. Other factors (stressors) affect what condition develops or whether any condition develops at all. Therefore some people could possess the COMT or SERT gene variations but suffer no illness at all
What are neural explanations of OCD
Abnormal levels of certain neurotransmitters
What neurotransmitters have been found to be abnormal in patients with OCD
Dopamine is thought to be abnormally high and serotonin is thought to be abnormally low
What is the theory that dopamine is high in patients with OCD based on
Animal studies
What is the conclusion that serotonin tends to be abnormally low in patients with OCD based on?
Antidepressant drugs that increase serotonin has been shown to reduce OCD symptoms
What area of the brain is thought to be abnormal in people with OCD
Several areas of the frontal lobe
