Psychopathology: Biological approach to explaining and treating OCD

Question 1

What are the key assumptions of the biological approach?

3

Answer 1

-all behaviour has a biological cause
-behaviour is influenced by genes , neurotransmitters and brain structures
-psychological disorders are best treated with biological methods

Question 2

Are obsessions the internal or external component of OCD , why ?

Are compulsions the internal or external component , why?

Answer 2

they are the internal component as they are thoughts which are intrusive

they are the external component as they are behaviours which are repetitive

Question 3

What are the behavioural characteristics of OCD?

There are 2

Answer 3

Compulsions-these are repetitive and the purpose of them is to reduce anxiety

Avoidance-keep away from situations that trigger anxiety

Question 4

What are the cognitive characteristics of OCD?

There are 3

Answer 4

Obsessive thoughts-recurrent intrusive thoughts

Awareness that the behaviour is irrational

Attentional bias and maintaining alertness

Question 5

What is an additional cognitive characteristic of OCD?

Answer 5

Cognitive strategies to deal with obsessions-this helps manage anxiety but can lead to failing to function adequately

Question 6

What are the emotional characteristics of OCD?

There are 2

Answer 6

Anxiety and distress-the thoughts are frightening and anxiety can be overwhelming , the urge to repeat behaviour also causes anxiety

Guilt and disgust-irrational guilt over minor issues and disgust with external environment or self

Question 7

Describe the genetic explanation for OCD…

make 2 points

Answer 7

Candidate genes-there are specific gene markers that make people vulnerable to developing OCD eg the SERT gene which is linked with low serotonin levels

OCD is polygenic-there are over 230 different genes that may be involved in OCD

Question 8

Evaluate the genetic explanation for OCD

1 of each

Answer 8

+there is good supporting evidence from twin studies
Nestadt et al 2010-reviewed previous twin studies and found 68% of MZ twins shared OCD compared to 31% of DZ twins
strongly suggests a genetic influence on OCD

-there are also environmental factors
Cromer et al 2007 found over half the OCD patients from his sample had experienced a traumatic event and OCD was more sever when they had more than one trauma
suggests OCD isn’t entirely caused by genetics

Question 9

Describe the neural explanation for OCD…

make 2 points

Answer 9

role of serotonin-OCD linked with low levels of serotonin which prevents normal transmission of mood relevant info between neurons
this impacts mood and other mental processes

brain structure-basal ganglia system and other systems are implicated , the communication within these areas are disrupted and may account for repetitive behaviours

Question 10

Evaluate the neural explanation for OCD…

1 of each

Answer 10

+there is supporting evidence for both
drugs which increase serotonin levels are effective in reducing symptoms and DBS that targets the loops in the basal ganglia has been effective at reducing symptoms
this suggests that both systems are involved in OCD

-neural mechanisms may not be the cause
people with OCD show abnormalities in brain structure and neurotransmitter levels but these could be a result of OCD not a cause
means the explanation is incomplete as can’t est cause and effect

Question 11

State the three main points for synaptic transmission

Answer 11

-when a neuron is activated by a stimulus it generates an action potential that travels down the axon of the neuron
-the gap between 2 neurons is known as the synaptic cleft
-for the action potential to reach the next neuron it must travel across the synapse as a chemical signal using neurotransmitters

Question 12

What is an action potential?

Answer 12

an electrical impulse

Question 13

What happens at the beginning of synaptic transmission?

2 points

Answer 13

-action potential travels down the axon of the pre-synaptic neuron
-action potential triggers release of neurotransmitters from vesicles

Question 14

What happens in the middle of synaptic transmission?

2 points

Answer 14

-neurotransmitters diffuse across the synapse
-they bind to receptors on the post-synaptic membrane

Question 15

What happens at the end of synaptic transmission?

2 points

Answer 15

-stimulation of post-synaptic receptors by neurotransmitters results in either excitation or inhibition of the post-synaptic membrane
-neurotransmitters are reabsorbed into the pre-synaptic neuron

Question 16

What does SSRI stand for?

What do they do and what does this result in?

Answer 16

selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors

they prevent the reabsorption and break down of serotonin in the pre-synaptic neuron

this increases levels of serotonin in the synapse so that it can continue to stimulate the post synaptic neuron

Question 17

Name one example of an SSRI

Answer 17

Fluoxetine

Question 18

What are SSRIs commonly used alongside?

How do the two treatments work together?

Answer 18

CBT or another type of psychological therapy

the drugs reduce the patients emotional symptoms such as depression/anxiety which allows patients to engage more fully in CBT

Question 19

What are the two solutions if SSRIs have been ineffective after 3 months

Answer 19

they are given an increased dosage
they are given a combination of drugs

Question 20

What is an example of another drug that can be given alongside SSRIs?
What do they stand for and what do they do?

Answer 20

SNRIs
(serotonin-noradrenaline reuptake inhibitors)
these increase the levels of serotonin and noradrenaline

Question 21

What is a strength of drug therapy as a treatment for OCD?

Answer 21

+its effective at treating symptoms
Soomro et al (2009) reviewed 17 studies and concluded in every study SSRIs were more effective than the placebo drug with a decline for 70% of patients

Question 22

What is a further strength of drug therapy?

Answer 22

+its cost effective and non disruptive
they are cheap compared to other treatments and they don’t disrupt the patients life as they don’t need to attend regular therapy sessions
-shows they are an appropriate treatment

Question 23

How do drug therapies contribute to the economy?

2 ways

Answer 23

they are a cheaper form of therapy so are good value for the NHS

they can reduce symptoms and allow patients to return to work which benefits the economy

Question 24

What is a weakness of drug therapy for treating OCD?

Answer 24

-drugs can have side effects
SSRIs can cause blurred vision and indigestion but these are usually temporary
SNRIs - 10% of patients experience tremours / weight gain
this reduces the effectiveness and appropriateness as patients may stop taking the drugs

Question 25

What is a further limitation of drug therapy?

Answer 25

-it treats the symptoms not the cause
drug therapy doesn’t address the cause of the disorder such as traumatic events so often psychological therapy is needed alongside drugs
suggests drugs alone are not effective at treating OCD