OCD

Question 1

What is obsessive compulsive disorder

Answer 1

An anxiety disorder that normally onsets in one early adult life and has 2 components

Question 2

What are the 2 components of OCD

Answer 2

1)obsessions -persistent thoughts
2)compulsions - repepetive behaviour
Sufferers realise their thoughts and behaviour are irrational

Question 3

What are the emotional characteristics of OCD

Answer 3

Feelings of embarrassment and shame
Anxiety and distress

Question 4

What are the behavioural characteristics of OCD

Answer 4

Repetition and unconcealed e.g hand washing
Feels like they must perform these actions and if not someone bad will happen e.g creating anxiety

Question 5

What are the cognitive characteristics of OCD

Answer 5

Obsessions are recurrent,intrusive thoughts or impulses seen as inappropriate or forbidden
Obsession themes : germs,doubts ,impulses or images
Seen as uncontrollable which creates anxious and as a product of their own mind rather than thoughts of others

Question 6

Neural explanations associated with OCD
What are the neurotransmitters and their levels

Answer 6

Low level of serotonin
High level of dopamine

Question 7

Neural explanations associated with OCD

Answer 7

Animal studies show that high dopamine levels seen an increase of compulsive type behaviour in dogs . A bit like OCD . However we can’t compare dog behaviour to compulsive OCD behaviour in adults due to human beings having a conscience and free will therefore it lacks representation as it can’t be generalised to the wider population

Question 8

Neural explanations associated with OCD:serotonin

Answer 8

SSRIs(antidepressants) that raise levels of serotonin,alleviate OCD symptoms however they treat the symptom rather than the cause as when the person stops taking the drugs the symptoms return as the root cause is not being dealt with

Question 9

Neuro-functioning associated with OCD:orbitofrontal cortex (OFC)

Answer 9

Located at the front of the brain
Responsible for judging and deliberation ,assessing potential harm and threats
The OFC seems to be overactive in OCD patients
Then the neurotransmitter serotonin is released

Question 10

Neuro-functioning associated with OCD:caudate nucleus in the basal ganglia

Answer 10

Relay station interpreting these signals
Decides what signals to pass on as important .Danger /threats
If the caudate nucleus is damaged (through tissue damage ) , it fails to stop minor worries activating the thalamus
The neurotransmitter serotonin and dopamine are released

Question 11

Neuro-functioning associated with OCD:Thalamus

Answer 11

Activated into acting on potential threats e.g germs and washing hands
Action has to occur to terminate the ‘wrong loop’ from the OFC

Question 12

What is the evidence for the Neuro-functioning associated with OCD

Answer 12

MRI scans of OCD patients do show greater activity in the OFC when their OCD is active which provides validity

Question 13

Genetic explanations for OCD:MZ twins

Answer 13

There was a meta analysis of 14 twin studies which found that one twin with OCD means the other is twice more likely than DZ twins to develop the disorder

Question 14

Genetic explanations for OCD:concordance rate

Answer 14

Carey and gottersman found an 87% concordance rate in mz twins (compared to 46% concordance rate for schizophrenia) therefore it has reliability as the results are high at 87%

Question 15

Genetic explanations for OCD:family studies

Answer 15

Having a first degree relative (parents,siblings) with OCD means you are X5 times more likely to develop OCD than the rest of the population.(Nestadt et al 2000)
This suggests that the genetic explanation has reliability

Question 16

What do we inherit

Answer 16

COMT gene
SERT gene
Diathesis stress

Question 17

What is the COMT gene

Answer 17

The COMT gene affects the termination of dopamine action . Therefore ,not enough COMT gene means too much of the neurotransmitter dopamine (leads to OCD)

Question 18

What is the SERT gene

Answer 18

Affects the transport of serotonin,so there is lower levels of this neurotransmitter

Question 19

What is diathesis stress

Answer 19

This suggests that each individual gene only creates a vulnerability (diathesis) for OCD development. Other factors affect the conditions for it to develop therefore some people could posses the gene variations but remain perfectly healthy throughout their life.

Question 20

What are the 3 drugs for the biological treatment of OCD

Answer 20

SSRIs
Tricyclics
Benzodiazepines (Anti-anxiety)

Question 21

How do SSRIs work

Answer 21

Serotonin is released into a synapse from a neuron
It targets the receptors cells on the receiving neuron at receptor sites and afterwards is re-absorbed by the initial neuron sending the message
In order to increase the levels of serotonin at the synapses and increase stimulation to the receiving neuron this re-absorption (re-uptake) is inhibited
Increases levels of serotonin
This reduces anxiety and makes the patient feel more relaxed

Question 22

How does Tricyclics work

Answer 22

Tricyclics block the transporter mechanism that re-absorbs serotonin and noradrenaline into the pre-synaptic cell after it has fired .
As a result more of these neurotransmitters are left in the synapse ,prolonging their activity and easing transmission of the next impulse which treats OCD

Question 23

How do Benzodiazepines (BZ) work

Answer 23

BZ slow down the activity of CNS by enhancing the neurotransmitter GABA which is when that it’s released it has a general quietening effect on many of the neurons in the brain . It does this by reacting with GABA receptors on the outside of the receiving neuron.
When GABA locks into theses receptors it opens a channel that increases the flow of chlorine ions into the neuron . The chlorine ions makes it harder for the neuron to be stimulated by other neurotransmitters,thus slowing down its activity and making the person feel more relaxed which reduces anxiety