Psychopathology - OCD

Question 1

What is OCD?

Answer 1

An anxiety disorder where sufferers experience persistent and intrusive thoughts occurring as obsessions, compulsions or a combination of the two.

Question 2

What are obsessions?

Answer 2

Repetitive + intrusive thoughts that are products of the minds (not realistic) and are extremely difficult to dismiss. Patients are aware that the obsessions are unreasonable but they cannot control them.

Question 3

What are compulsions?

Answer 3

Repetitive + rigid behaviours and are generally carried out due to the obsessions. Patients are driven to perform these acts as they fear dangerous consequences if they don’t.

Question 4

Describe the OCD cycle.

Answer 4

1) obsessive thought.
2) anxiety
3) compulsive behaviour
4) temporary relief
5) cycle repeats

Question 5

What is the DSM?

Answer 5

Diagnostic and statistical manual of mental disorder.

Question 6

What is the DSM’s criteria on OCD?

Answer 6

• recurrent obsessions and compulsions.
• recognition by the individual that obsessions are excessive.
• person is distressed and daily life is disrupted.

Question 7

What are the behavioural characteristics of OCD?

Answer 7

• repetitive behaviour that disrupt everyday functioning e.g. hand washing.
• compulsions reduce anxiety.
• avoidance. Avoiding certain situations.
• social impairment

Question 8

What are the emotional characteristics of OCD?

Answer 8

• anxiety and distress.
• depression. Compulsions bring temporary relief.
• guilt and disgust.

Question 9

What are the cognitive characteristics of OCD?

Answer 9

• recurrent and persistent obsessive thoughts that are intrusive and repetitive.
• uncontrollable urges to perform acts.
• obsessions are unwanted.
• the individual is aware of their excessive + irrational thoughts.

Question 10

What is OCD in terms of its genetic structure?

Answer 10

It is polygenic meaning more than one gene plays a role in OCD. Up to 230.

Question 11

What does the ComT gene control?

Answer 11

Controls dopamine regulation, reducing its action.

Question 12

What does the SERT gene control?

Answer 12

It affects the transport of serotonin.

Question 13

What does the ComT gene variant cause?

Answer 13

It reduces the production of the enzyme which helps terminate dopamine therefore dopamine is not controlled = too much dopamine.

Question 14

What does the SERT gene variation cause.

Answer 14

It affects the transport of serotonin. The variation creates lower levels of it because the mutation causes an increase in transporter proteins at the neurones membrane.

Question 15

Describe the results of 2 twin studies.

Answer 15

MZ concordance rate = 53-87% DZ concordance rate = 22-47%

People with a first degree relative with OCD had a 5x greater risk of having OCD.

Question 16

What is Diathesis-stress?

Answer 16

Variant genes make people more vulnerable to disorders but stressors affect what condition develops or whether any mental illness develops at all. Therefore, some people could posses the ComT or SERT gene variations but suffer no ill effects.

Question 17

What parts of the brain are responsible for decision making and logical reasoning?

Answer 17

The lateral (side) bits of the frontal lobe.

Question 18

Describe how abnormal brain circuits can be involved in OCD?

Answer 18

1) OFC sends ‘worry signals’.
2) these signal usually suppressed by caudate nucleus which filters out irrelevant impulses.
3) more powerful ones are sent to the thalamus for more thinking.
4) for OCD sufferers it is said that the caudate nucleus is damaged so doesn’t suppress the signals.

Question 19

How can surgery reduce OCD?

Answer 19

If it disconnects the basal ganglia from the frontal cortex the pathway for worrying info is stopped.

Question 20

What are SSRI’s and how do they help OCD?

Answer 20

It rebalances the low levels of serotonin by blocking the serotonin reuptake, increasing the amount available in the synapse to bind to receptor sites thus increasing overall levels of serotonin in the brain.

Question 21

What are SNRI’s and how do they help OCD?

Answer 21

They block transporter mechanisms that absorb serotonin and noradrenaline back into the pre-synaptic neurone after it has fired. Therefore leaving more of these neurotransmitters in the synapse, prolonging their activity.

Question 22

What extreme drugs can be used to treat severe OCD?

Answer 22

BZ’s can be used to reduce severe anxiety. They slow down the nervous system by increasing GABA (a neurotransmitter). However, they are highly addictive.

Question 23

what are the advantages of drug therapy?

Answer 23

• the drugs are non-addictive.
• Drugs are cost efficient.
• Easy to take.
• They are quick compared to therapy.
• Drug have been proven to be effective in placebo tests.

Question 24

what are the disadvantages of drug therapy?

Answer 24

• there can be possible side effects. not everyone suffers but people who do may stop taking the drug.
• drugs are not a cure, if u stop taking them you may experience relapse.
• Not everyone responds to drugs.
• there may be better/more ethical treatments out there.