OCD Flashcards
What does ICD stand for with regards to diagnosis of mental health disorders? and what number is the latest version of the ICD? using the ICD- what are the three essesntil diagnostic criteria for OCD
ICD- international classification of diseases, it’s a globally recognised system for diagnosing health conditions and diseases.
It provides a standardised classification scheme for diagnosis of diseases including health conditions, diseases, or external causes of injury. The ICD is maintained by WHO. It’s used for research purposes, clinical diagnosis and epidemiology
ICD-11 is the latest version, incorporating changes in medical field. Introducing new features, that is a more detailed classification system and the inclusion of traditional medicine conditions, reflecting the advancements in health and medical science
Criteria:
-obsessions
(Recurrent, persistent thoughts that are experienced as intrusive and unwanted which causes anxiety/ stress in majority of individuals. The individual attempts to ignore/ supress these thoughts, urges or neutralise them with another thought.
-compulsions
(Repetitive behaviours like handwashing, checking, that a person feels driven to perform in response to a obsession, to reduce anxiety and stress, or preventing some dreaded event or situation but these behaviours are not connected in a realistic way or trying to prevent.
-significant distress or impairment
(the obsessions or compulsions are time consuming and can take more than an hour a day or cause significant distress or impairment in social, occupational or other important areas of functioning
what is an obsession and give an example?
obsessions
(Recurrent, persistent thoughts or urgers that are experienced as intrusive and unwanted which causes anxiety/ stress in majority of individuals. The individual attempts to ignore/ supress these thoughts, urges or neutralise them with another thought.
EXAMPLE:
could involve excessive, intrusive thoughts about contamination. A person with this type of obsession might be constantly worried about being contaminated by germs, dirt, or toxins. They might fear that touching objects in public spaces could lead to illness
what is compulsion and give an example?
compulsions
(Repetitive behaviours like handwashing, checking, that a person feels driven to perform in response to an obsession, to reduce anxiety and stress, or preventing some dreaded event or situation but these behaviours are not connected in a realistic way or trying to prevent.
EXAMPLE:
leads the individual to engage in compulsive behaviours such as excessive hand washing, avoiding touching door handles, or excessively cleaning their home to try and alleviate the anxiety caused by these obsessive thoughts
What does PANDAS stand for?
Paediatric Autoimmune Neuropsychiatric Disorders Associated with Streptococcal infections.
PANDAS is like when a child gets a sore throat (streptococcal infection) caused by strep bacteria, and then, unexpectedly, starts showing signs of anxiety or doing the same thing repeatedly (OCD), like washing their hands a lot. This happens because the body’s immune system, which fights off the sore throat, gets a bit confused and mistakenly causes trouble(inflammation) in the brain. This makes the child act differently or feel anxious out of the blue. Doctors try to help by treating the sore throat and by helping the child with the worry or repetitive behaviours. Usually antibiotics treat the infection, as well as medications and therapies to treat the neuropsychiatric symptoms
onset onset of OCD before age 10 is more common in which gender?
More common in males. The reason for this apparent frequency is not fully understood. Most likely due to genetics, environmental and biological factors. This prevalence is similar in adulthood
Which gender is more likely to experience co-occuring primary tic disorders?
Males are more likely than females to experience co-occurring primary tic disorders alongside OCD. Tic disorders, which include conditions like Tourette Syndrome and Chronic Tic Disorders, are characterized by sudden, rapid, recurrent, non-rhythmic motor movements or vocalizations
Approximately what % of people with onset of OCD will experience full remission by early adulthood?
The percentage of individuals with childhood-onset OCD who experience full remission (recovery) by early adulthood varies across studies, but it’s generally considered to be relatively low 40%. Many factors can influence these outcomes, including the severity of OCD symptoms at onset, the presence of comorbid conditions (such as tic disorders), the effectiveness and timeliness of treatment interventions, and individual differences in response to treatment
Up to which % of all individuals with OCD will also experience tourette syndrome or another primary tic disorder during their lifetime?
30%
There’s a significant overlap between OCD and Tourette’s, suggesting shared underlying mechanisms or genetic vulnerabilities in some cases
Relatively few mental health professionals or GPs have expertise in the recognition, assessment, diagnosis and treatment of the less common forms of OCD and BDD - true or false? what is BDD and what does it stand for? what are some of the lesser forms of OCD?
BDD (body dysmorphic disorder) characterized by an obsessive focus on one or more perceived flaws or defects in physical appearance, which are either minor or not observable to others. They spend days thinking about these perceived flaws which can impact their daily functioning including occupational, social, and other important areas of functioning. Frequently checking their appearance, seek reassurance about their looks, undergo cosmetic procedures with little satisfaction of results.
Example of less common form of OCD is Hoarding: Difficulty discarding or parting with possessions regardless of their actual value. This is now recognized as a distinct disorder (Hoarding Disorder) but was previously considered a type of OCD.
TRUE- as they may overlap with other psychiatric disorders making it challenging to identify
Which factors apply to people known to be at higher risk of BDD- -higher socioeconomic background, low socioeconomic background, male gender, female gender, depression, mania, alchol or substance use, eating disorders, social phobia, ocd, schizophrenia, overuse of vitamin
-alcohol or substance absue
-eating disorder
-depression
-OCD
-social phobia
Broadly speaking what is the psychological therapy of choice in OCD?
Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT), specifically with a technique known as Exposure and Response Prevention (ERP). ERP involves gradually exposing the person to their feared objects or ideas, either directly or in imagination, and then helping the person learn to resist the urge to engage in the compulsive behaviours. This method is considered the most effective psychological treatment for OCD
What class of antidepressant is used to treat OCD?
The first-line class of antidepressants used to treat OCD is SSRIs. These medications are commonly prescribed because they have been found to be effective in reducing the symptoms of OCD and generally have a favourable side effect profile compared to older classes of antidepressants.
by increasing the levels of serotonin in the brain. Serotonin is a neurotransmitter, which is a type of chemical that helps transmit signals in the brain. SSRIs work by blocking (inhibiting) this reuptake process. As a result, more serotonin remains in the synapse for a longer time and continues to affect the neighbouring neuron. Enhances neurotransmission and is believed to help improve mood and reduce anxiety, thereby helping to alleviate the symptoms of OCD
What may be some of the causes of OCD?
Genetic Factors: There’s evidence that OCD may run in families, suggesting that genes can play a role. However, no single gene has been identified; rather, it’s likely that multiple genes contribute to the risk of developing the disorder.
Brain Structure and Functioning: Imaging studies have shown differences in certain areas of the brain in people with OCD, particularly in regions that are part of the ‘cortico-striato-thalamo-cortical’ (CSTC) circuit. These areas are involved in habits, routines, and the filtering of information.
Neurotransmitters: OCD is associated with imbalances in certain chemicals in the brain, especially serotonin. Medications that increase the level of serotonin often help relieve OCD symptoms, supporting the idea that serotonin plays a significant role in OCD.
Environmental Factors: Stressful life events, trauma, or infections have been implicated as potential triggers for OCD in people who are genetically predisposed. For instance, the onset of OCD symptoms is sometimes associated with a streptococcal infection in children, a condition known as PANDAS.
Behavioral Factors: Some theories suggest that OCD symptoms may develop from learned behaviors. For example, if a person feels relief from anxiety when they perform a certain action, they may start to perform that action compulsively.
Cognitive Factors: OCD can be related to certain patterns of thinking, such as an exaggerated sense of responsibility and catastrophic interpretations(intrusive and unwanted) of thoughts
