OCD- psychopathology Flashcards
OCD definition:
A disorder where a person has recurrent and unwanted ________ and a need to perform ________ and rigid actions
- thoughts
- repetitive
2 behavioural characteristics of OCD
- COMPULSIONS
they are repetitive and are done to reduce anxiety that’s caused by the obsessions - AVOIDANCE
attempt to reduce anxiety by keeping away from situations that trigger it, can interfere with people’s everyday lives
3 emotional characteristics of OCD
- ANXIETY AND DISTRESS
unpleasant emotional experience due to extreme anxiety, obsessive thoughts are unpleasant and frightening, and the anxiety can be overwhelming. - DEPRESSION
anxiety companied with low mood, lack of enjoyment in activities - GUILT AND DISGUST
irrational guilt, and can feel disgust either against something external or against the self
3 cognitive characteristics of OCD
- OBSESSIVE THOUGHTS
occur over and over again - COGNITIVE STRATEGIES TO DEAL W OBSESSIONS
helps manage anxiety, can distract from everyday tasks
-INSIGHT INTO EXCESSIVE ANXIETY
sufferers are aware their obsessions aren’t rational, they experience catastrophic thoughts about the worst case scenarios if their anxieties are justified. they’re hyper vigilant so maintain constant alertness + keep attention focused on potential hazards
Describe the cycle of OCD starting with obsessive thoughts
OBSESSIVE THOUGHTS
——->
ANXIETY
——–>
COMPULSIVE BEHAVIOUR
———>
TEMPORARY RELIEF
then cycle starts again
Genetic explanation of OCD -
what did Lewis find?
- genes involved in vulnerability to OCD
- lewis found: 37% of OCD patients had parents with OCD, 21% had siblings with OCD
suggests OCD runs in families
genetic vulnerability is passed on through families
Genetic explanation of OCD-
explain…
- diathesis stress model
-candidate genes
-polygenic - aetiologically heterogenous
diathesis stress model= genes leave individual’s with vulnerability to a disorder, but it’s not certain and requires an environmental stressor to trigger the onset.
Candidate genes= genes which create a vulnerability to OCD
Polygenic= OCD is caused by many different candidate genes, Taylor found that there are up to 230 different genes involved in OCD
aetiologically heterogenous= origin of OCD has different causes for each individual sufferer.
AO3- genetic explanation of OCD
- TWIN STUDIES ARE FLAWED
shared environmental experience - CANDIDATE GENES
provide little predictive value - LOTS OF SUPPORTING EVIDENCE
twin studies: 68% MZ shared OCD, 31% DZ shared OCD - ENVIRONMENTAL RISK FACTORS
ocd not entirely genetics an be triggered by environment eg trauma - LEARNED BEHAVIOUR
findings from family studies can be explained by observation and imitation
Neural explanation- serotonin
- serotonin helps regulate mood
- if someone has low levels then normal transmission of mood relevant info doesn’t take place
- so mood and other mental processes are affected
Neural explanation- decision making systems
- OCD can be associated with impaired decision making
- can be associated with abnormal functioning of the LATERAL FRONTAL LOBES, which are responsible for thinking and making decisions
—> slide left parahippocampus associated with processing unpleasant emotions functions abnormally in OCD
AO3- neural explanations
- UNCLEAR ON NEURAL MECHANISMS
no system has been found that always plays a role in OCD
so can’t claim to fully understand - SHOULDNT ASSUME NEURAL MECHANISMS = OCD
biological abnormalities a result of OCD, not a cause - EVIDENCE
some anti-depressants work purely on serotonin which increase the levels, just coz this decreases OCD symptoms doesn’t mean this was the cause in the first place
Biological approach to treating depression-
SSRIs
- SELECTIVE SEROTONIN REUPTAKE INHIBITOR
- they block the reuptake of serotonin which allows serotonin to remain active within the synapse longer
- by preventing the breakdown and re-absorption of serotonin, SSRIs increase its levels in the synapse and so continue to stimulate the post-synaptic neurone
- takes 3 to 4 months of daily use for SSRIs to have an impact on symptoms
- sufferers will relapse to full disorder if they stop taking the drug, can combine drug therapy with CBT to treat OCD—-> drugs reduce patients anxiety/depression which allows them to engage more effectively with CBT.
AO3 drug therapy to treat OCD
- EFFECTIVE
—-> SSRIs compared with placebos, all 17 studies showed significantly better results for SSRIs - clear ev that they reduce the symptoms and provide an improved quality of life for sufferers
- COST EFFECTIVE AND NON DISRUPTIVE
—-> cheap compared to psychological treatments, good value for NHS, non-disruptive as have to swallow a pill - SIDE EFFECTS
—> indigestion, blurred vision, loss of sex drive - UNRELIABLE EVIDENCE
——> ev supporting drug treatments may be biased, this research is often sponsored by drug companies - SOME OCD CASES FOLLOW TRAUMA
—–> OCD can have a range of other causes such as being a response to a trauma , drugs don’t address this
