Psychopathology next steps-OCD Flashcards
What type of disorder is OCD?
Anxiety disorder
List the emotional characteristics of OCD (5)
Distress
Guilt
Disgust
Anxiety
Accompanying depression
List the cognitive characteristics of OCD (2)
Obsessive thoughts
Insight into excessive anxiety
List the behavioural characteristics of OCD (2)
Avoidance of triggers
Compulsions/repetitive actions
Explain the cycle of OCD
Obsessive thoughts - Emotions - Compulsive behaviour - Relief - Repeat
Works via reinforcement, compulsions improve emotional state, and so you will repeat it
Biological explanations for OCD (2)
Genetic explanation
Neural explanation
Genetic explanation for OCD: D-S Model
Diathesis-stress model: argues that genetics give you a predisposition towards OCD, and then environmental triggers cause it to be shown in your behaviour
Genetic explanation for OCD: Candidate genes
Researchers have identified candidate genes which create a vulnerability for OCD (if you inherit these genetics, you are likely to develop OCD)
5HT1-D beta has a role in transport of serotonin and is connected to OCD.
Polygenic
OCD appears to be polygenic, meaning caused by several genes
Aetiologically heterogeneous
OCD appears to be aetiologically heterogeneous, meaning caused by different things in different people
Lewis (1936)
37% of OCD patients had parents with OCD, and 21% siblings - concordance
Taylor (2013)
230 different genes may be involved, many associated with dopamine/serotonin
Evaluation of the genetic explanation
Not appropriate for generating treatments
Research support: Lewis
Biologically deterministic
Biologically reductionistic
Neural meaning
the role of neurotransmitters and the brain.
Neural explanation for OCD: serotonin
Evidence that genes affecting serotonin are linked to OCD, so serotonin is linked to OCD.
If a person has low levels of serotonin, normal transmission of mood-relevant information will not take place, causing the symptoms of OCD.
Neural explanations for OCD: antidepressants
Antidepressants seem to be effective in reducing OCD symptoms, which also suggests serotonin is involved in the onset of symptoms
Neural explanations of OCD: brain functioning
Some cases of OCD are connected to impaired decision making, carried out by the frontal lobe, so the frontal lobe is connected to OCD.
The left parahippocampal gyrus (for unpleasant emotions) functions abnormally in OCD.
Evaluation of the neural explanation
Practical application: treatments SSRIs
Research support for the treatment, suggesting explanation is valid: Soomro, impact of SSRIs
Biologically deterministic
Biologically reductionistic
Biological treatments of OCD: SSRIs
Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors (SSRIs): block reuptake, allowing serotonin to remain in the synapse, so serotonin continues to stimulate the postsynaptic neuron.
It can take 3-4 months of daily use before you can see an impact.
Biological treatments of OCD: tricyclics
Tricyclics: antidepressant; has severe side effects (heart problems), so used if no response to SSRIs. inhibit reuptake of serotonin and norepinephrine, impacts mood, attention, and pain response
Soomro’s meta analysis of 17 studies demonstrated that SSRIs reduce symptoms more than a placebo
Evaluation of Biological treatments of OCD
Soft determinism: this treatment allows some level of control over OCD symptoms, dosage
Side effects: antidepressants can have negative effects that make it inappropriate: heart problems
Research support: Soomro
Biologically reductionist: complex disorder treated in a solely biological way
Cost effective, as drugs are cheaper to produce than therapy, positive impact on the economy
