OCD

Question 1

what are obsessions

Answer 1

Reoccurring and persistent thoughts
Not based in reality

Question 1

what is OCD

Answer 1

The involvement of repetitive behaviours, a desire for cleanliness and neatness, as well as obsessive thinking
DSM 5 categories for OCD are :
OCD

Tricholomania

Hoarding disorder

Excoriation disorder

Question 2

what are compulsions

Answer 2

Repetitive behaviours
Physical urge to perform acts to reduce anxiety

Question 3

what % of people with OCD have obsessions or compulsions or both

Answer 3

70% both
20% only obsessions
10% only compulsions

Question 4

what are the behavioural characteristics of OCD

Answer 4

Compulsions are repetitive: feel compelled to repeat them

Compulsions reduce anxiety

Avoidance

Question 5

what are the emotional characteristics of OCD

Answer 5

Anxiety and distress: include unpleasant and powerful emotions that accompany obsessions and compulsions

Accompanying depression

Guilt and disgust: irrational guilt over minor moral issues

Question 6

what are the cognitive characteristics of OCD

Answer 6

Obsessive thoughts

Cognitive coping strategies

Insight into excessive anxiety

Question 7

what is the OCD cycle

Answer 7

Obsessive thoughts - anxiety - compulsive behaviours - temporary relief

Question 8

genetic explanations for OCD

Answer 8

-Candidate genes (specific genes inherited from parents that lead to an increased vulnerability usually specific to the transfer of serotonin and dopamine)
-Polygenic (multiple genes are involved in OCD (Taylor estimate 230)

Question 9

neural explanations for OCD

Answer 9

-Low serotonin levels lowers the mood


-Impairment of the frontal lobe (decision making) is relavent to the behavioral and cognitive characteristics of OCD


-Abnormal functioning of the parahippocampul gyrus has been linked to OCD

Question 10

eval for genetic explanations

Answer 10

Research support
Nestadt
-68% mz have OCD
-31% dz have OCD
high concordance rate = genetic

Question 11

eval for genetic explanations

Answer 11

Animal studies
-specific gened are associated with repetitive behaviors in animals like mice
-unethical and cant be generalised

Question 12

eval for neural explanations

Answer 12

Research support
The use of SSRI’s to increase levels of serotonin has been proven to help lessen the effects of OCD and other degenerate diseases like parkinsons

Question 13

eval for neural explanations

Answer 13

Correlation not causation
The neural explanation suggests that OCD is caused by faulty neural systems however there could simply be a link and x doesn’t necessarily cause why as there may be other variables like the environment that we grow up in

Question 14

what is a SSRI

Answer 14

selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor’s

Question 15

what do SSRI’s do

Answer 15

In a ‘normal ‘ brain some of the serotonin is reabsorbed rather than travelling across the synapses from the presynaptic neuron to the post synaptic neuron
In an ‘abnormal’ brain like OCD, less serotonin is produced so, there is less mood related information being taken to were its supposed to be
SSRI’s prevent reuptake of serotonin so that all of the serotonin released goes to the brain

Question 16

eval of treaments

Answer 16

Quick, easy and cheap
Requires little effort form either party whilst still being effective. Cheaper than NHS psychological therapies which require time and training

Question 17

eval of tratments

Answer 17

Drugs may not have a long term affect
Most studies are only 3-4 months i duration therefore its difficult to say if the drugs are effective long term