OCD Flashcards

(49 cards)

1
Q

What are the behavioural characteristics of OCD?

A

Compulsions/repetitive behaviour
Avoidance

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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

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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)

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4
Q

What are the emotional characteristics of OCD?

A

High anxiety / low mood
Disgust / self-loathing

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5
Q

Why do people with OCD demonstrate high anxiety?

A

They are aware of their inability to control themselves

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6
Q

Why do people with OCD have a low mood?

A

They aware aware of their excessive behaviour which causes embarrassment

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7
Q

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

A

They hate source of obsessions or themselves

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8
Q

What are the cognitive characteristics of OCD?

A

Obsessions/Irrational beliefs
Awareness of irrational behaviour
Selective attention

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9
Q

What is an obsessive thought?

A

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

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10
Q

What are common obsessions?

A

Doubts
Impulses
Images

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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

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12
Q

How does a person with OCD demonstrate selective attention?

A

Increased awareness of source of obsessions in new situations

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13
Q

What does polygenic mean?

A

More than 1 gene is responsible for behaviour

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14
Q

What are candidate genes?

A

Genes that might be responsible for a behaviour

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15
Q

What are neurotransmitters?

A

Chemical messengers in the nervous system

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16
Q

What are the 2 biological explanations of OCD?

A

Genetic Explanation

Neural Explanation

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17
Q

What does the biological approach assume?

A

OCD is caused by genetic and biochemical factors

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18
Q

What does the genetic explanation suggest?

A

OCD is inherited

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19
Q

What 2 genes may have a role in causing OCD?

A

COMT gene

SERT gene

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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
What is the weakness of the genetic explanation?
Limited explanation - Cannot apply to families without a history of OCD - Around half of OCD cases tend to follow trauma
26
What does the neural explanation suggest?
Abnormal levels of neurotransmitters causes abnormal transmission of mood-related information
27
What 2 neurotransmitters affect mood?
Dopamine Serotonin
28
How does dopamine link to OCD?
High levels of dopamine is linked to hyperactivity in the basal ganglia of the brain This causes repetitive motor functions
29
How does serotonin link to OCD?
Low levels of serotonin cause the caudate nucleus in the basal ganglia of the brain to malfunction which also causes compulsions
30
What is the strength of the neural explanation?
Antidepressants which increase serotonin levels have been shown to lessen symptoms of OCD
31
What is a weakness of the neural explanation?
OCD may cause abnormal levels of neurotransmitters or it may be the other way around DON’T KNOW WHICH ONE COMES FIRST
32
What do the biological treatments for OCD focus on?
Correcting the balance of neurotransmitters to reduce symptoms
33
What are the two biological treatments for OCD?
SSRIs (selective serotonin re-uptake inhibitors) Benzodiazepines
34
What are some examples of SSRIs?
Antidepressants such as: Prozac Fluoxetine
35
What are some examples of benzodiazepines?
Anti-anxiety drugs: Valium Diazepam
36
How does serotonin travel in the brain?
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
What do SSRIs do to serotonin?
Prevent reabsorption and breakdown serotonin to increase the level of serotonin in the synapse Serotonin continues to stimulate the postsynaptic neuron Reduces anxiety
38
How long do SSRIs take?
Usually 3-4 months to impact symptoms
39
What are the strengths of SSRIs?
Research support (Soomro 2009) Proven to decline symptoms
40
What did Soomro (2009) do?
Reviewed 17 studies comparing SSRIs to placebo drugs All 17 studies shows SSRIs were more effective - especially when paired with CBT
41
How are SSRIs proven to decline symptoms?
70% patients experienced decline in OCD symptoms Remaining 30% chose psychological therapies or both
42
What are the weaknesses of SSRIs?
May have sever side effects: - indigestion - loss of sex drive - blurred vision Can cause patients to stop taking the medication
43
What do benzodiazepines do?
Slow down activity on central nervous system by enhancing activity of GABA
44
What is GABA?
A neurotransmitter which has an inhibitory affect on neurons
45
How does GABA slow down activity of the CNS?
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
What is the strength of Benzodiazepines?
Can reduce anxiety and OCD symptoms in a short period of time - a lot faster than CBT and other treatments
47
What are the disadvantages of benzodiazepines?
Side effects Dependency (Ashton 1997) Increasing tolerance
48
What are some side effect of benzodiazepines?
Drowsiness Depressions Unpredictable interactions with alcohol
49
What did Ashton (1997) find?
Long-term users of benzodiazepines become dependent on it Sudden withdrawal leads to return of high anxiety and OCD symptoms