Brainscape's Knowledge GenomeTM

Browse over 1 million classes created by top students, professors, publishers, and experts.


See full index

Psychopathology > OCD > Flashcards

OCD Flashcards

1
Q

What are the behavioural characteristics of OCD?

A

Compulsions/repetitive behaviour
Avoidance

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
2
Q

How does a person with OCD demonstrate compulsions?

A

Repetitive actions that hinder ability to perform daily tasks
Reduces anxiety from obsessions
Person must perform compulsions otherwise consequences

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
3
Q

How does a person with OCD demonstrate avoidance?

A

Avoid situations that may trigger their anxiety (avoiding emptying a bin to avoid germs)

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
4
Q

What are the emotional characteristics of OCD?

A

High anxiety / low mood
Disgust / self-loathing

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
5
Q

Why do people with OCD demonstrate high anxiety?

A

They are aware of their inability to control themselves

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
6
Q

Why do people with OCD have a low mood?

A

They aware aware of their excessive behaviour which causes embarrassment

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
7
Q

How do people with OCD demonstrate disgust/self-loathing?

A

They hate source of obsessions or themselves

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
8
Q

What are the cognitive characteristics of OCD?

A

Obsessions/Irrational beliefs
Awareness of irrational behaviour
Selective attention

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
9
Q

What is an obsessive thought?

A

Persistent, intrusive, irrational behaviour that is perceived as inappropriate or forbidden

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
10
Q

What are common obsessions?

A

Doubts
Impulses
Images

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
11
Q

How are people with OCD aware of their irrational behaviour?

A

They often know their thoughts are inappropriate/irrational but can’t consciously control them

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
12
Q

How does a person with OCD demonstrate selective attention?

A

Increased awareness of source of obsessions in new situations

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
13
Q

What does polygenic mean?

A

More than 1 gene is responsible for behaviour

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
14
Q

What are candidate genes?

A

Genes that might be responsible for a behaviour

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
15
Q

What are neurotransmitters?

A

Chemical messengers in the nervous system

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
16
Q

What are the 2 biological explanations of OCD?

A

Genetic Explanation

Neural Explanation

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
17
Q

What does the biological approach assume?

A

OCD is caused by genetic and biochemical factors

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
18
Q

What does the genetic explanation suggest?

A

OCD is inherited

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
19
Q

What 2 genes may have a role in causing OCD?

A

COMT gene

SERT gene

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
20
Q

What does the COMT gene do?

A

Regulates production of dopamine

Variation of this gene causes more dopamine

This variation is more common in people with OCD

21
Q

What does the SERT gene do?

A

Affects transportation of serotonin

Causes lower levels of serotonin which is linked to OCD

22
Q

What are the strengths for the genetic explanation?

A

Animals studies

Nestadt et al (2010)

23
Q

What did Nestadt et al do (2010)?

A

Concordance rates for OCD between monozygotic twins (68%) was higher than dizygotic twins (32%)

24
Q

How do animals studies act as a strength for the genetic explanation of OCD?

A

Ahmari (2016) found a common gene in mice who display ritualistic behaviour

Suggests that behaviour may be caused by genes, like OCD

25
Q

What is the weakness of the genetic explanation?

A

Limited explanation
- Cannot apply to families without a history of OCD
- Around half of OCD cases tend to follow trauma

26
Q

What does the neural explanation suggest?

A

Abnormal levels of neurotransmitters causes abnormal transmission of mood-related information

27
Q

What 2 neurotransmitters affect mood?

A

Dopamine

Serotonin

28
Q

How does dopamine link to OCD?

A

High levels of dopamine is linked to hyperactivity in the basal ganglia of the brain

This causes repetitive motor functions

29
Q

How does serotonin link to OCD?

A

Low levels of serotonin cause the caudate nucleus in the basal ganglia of the brain to malfunction which also causes compulsions

30
Q

What is the strength of the neural explanation?

A

Antidepressants which increase serotonin levels have been shown to lessen symptoms of OCD

31
Q

What is a weakness of the neural explanation?

A

OCD may cause abnormal levels of neurotransmitters or it may be the other way around

DON’T KNOW WHICH ONE COMES FIRST

32
Q

What do the biological treatments for OCD focus on?

A

Correcting the balance of neurotransmitters to reduce symptoms

33
Q

What are the two biological treatments for OCD?

A

SSRIs (selective serotonin re-uptake inhibitors)

Benzodiazepines

34
Q

What are some examples of SSRIs?

A

Antidepressants such as:
Prozac
Fluoxetine

35
Q

What are some examples of benzodiazepines?

A

Anti-anxiety drugs:
Valium
Diazepam

36
Q

How does serotonin travel in the brain?

A

Released by presynaptic neurons
Travels across synaptic cleft / synapse
Chemically convert signals from presynaptic neuron to postsynaptic neuron
Reabsorbed by the presynaptic neuron - broken down and reused

37
Q

What do SSRIs do to serotonin?

A

Prevent reabsorption and breakdown serotonin to increase the level of serotonin in the synapse

Serotonin continues to stimulate the postsynaptic neuron
Reduces anxiety

38
Q

How long do SSRIs take?

A

Usually 3-4 months to impact symptoms

39
Q

What are the strengths of SSRIs?

A

Research support (Soomro 2009)

Proven to decline symptoms

40
Q

What did Soomro (2009) do?

A

Reviewed 17 studies comparing SSRIs to placebo drugs

All 17 studies shows SSRIs were more effective - especially when paired with CBT

41
Q

How are SSRIs proven to decline symptoms?

A

70% patients experienced decline in OCD symptoms

Remaining 30% chose psychological therapies or both

42
Q

What are the weaknesses of SSRIs?

A

May have sever side effects:
- indigestion
- loss of sex drive
- blurred vision

Can cause patients to stop taking the medication

43
Q

What do benzodiazepines do?

A

Slow down activity on central nervous system by enhancing activity of GABA

44
Q

What is GABA?

A

A neurotransmitter which has an inhibitory affect on neurons

45
Q

How does GABA slow down activity of the CNS?

A

Reacts with GABA receptors on neurons

GABA locks on to these receptors and open a channel

Chloride ions flow through the channel making it harder for other neurotransmitters to stimulate it

Slows down natural activity and makes a person feel more relaxed

46
Q

What is the strength of Benzodiazepines?

A

Can reduce anxiety and OCD symptoms in a short period of time - a lot faster than CBT and other treatments

47
Q

What are the disadvantages of benzodiazepines?

A

Side effects
Dependency (Ashton 1997)
Increasing tolerance

48
Q

What are some side effect of benzodiazepines?

A

Drowsiness
Depressions
Unpredictable interactions with alcohol

49
Q

What did Ashton (1997) find?

A

Long-term users of benzodiazepines become dependent on it

Sudden withdrawal leads to return of high anxiety and OCD symptoms

Psychopathology (4 decks)

Brainscape helps you reach your goals faster, through stronger study habits.
© 2024 Bold Learning Solutions. Terms and Conditions