Psychopathology - OCD

Question 1

Obsessive thoughts

Answer 1

Recurring or persistent thoughts

Question 1

What is OCD?

Answer 1

Obsessive-compulsive disorder

Question 2

Compulsive behaviour

Answer 2

Repetitive acts performed to reduce anxiety/distress

Question 3

Behavioural characteristics of OCD

Answer 3

• Repetitive compulsions
• Avoidance
• Compulsions reducing anxiety

Question 4

Emotional characteristics of OCD

Answer 4

• Anxiety & distress
• Accompanying depression
• Guilt & disgust

Question 5

Cognitive characteristics of OCD

Answer 5

• Obsessive thoughts
• Cognitive coping strategies
• Insight into excessive anxiety

Question 6

Biological explanations of OCD (1)

Answer 6

Genetic (candidate genes & polygenic) - twin studies & family studies (Lewis - 37% of participants had OCD parents, 21% had siblings)

Question 7

Biological explanations of OCD (2)

Answer 7

Genes involved:
COMT - dopamine break down regulation (not enough enzymes to break it -> more dopamine)
SERT - serotonin transportation regulation (issues in transportation -> lower levels of serotonin)

Question 8

Biological explanations of OCD (3)

Answer 8

Diathesis-stress model (genetic predisposition but is triggered by environmental factors)

Question 9

Neural explanation of OCD

Answer 9

Serotonin (decision making system:
- Orbital frontal cortex - notices something is wrong
- Worry signal sent to thalamus
- Caudate nucleus regulated worry signals

OCD has a damaged caudate nucleus -> overstimulated thalamus leads to panic mode -> increase in compulsive behaviour/anxiety

Question 10

Drug treatments for OCD (1)

Answer 10

Anti-depressants & SSRIs (reduce anxiety) -> inhibit reuptake of serotonin which alleviates OCD tendencies

Question 11

Drug treatments for OCD (2)

Answer 11

Antipsychotics (lower dopamine levels) -> lowers anxiety by slowing activity in CNS and enhancing Gaba

Question 12

Strengths of biological explanations (OCD)

Answer 12

Evidenced (Nestadt et al 2010 - 68% concordence rate between MZ twins; Marini & Stebnicki 2012 - 4x more likely if family have it)
Animal studies (Ahmari 2016 - genetic variations found in other species)

Question 13

Limitations of biological explanations (OCD)

Answer 13

Environment (Cromer et al. 2017 - 50% of clients had traumatic experiences that lead to more severe OCD)
Animal studies (cannot be generalised to humans with OCD)

Question 14

Strengths of neural explanations (OCD)

Answer 14

Evidenced
- Anti-depressants effective in reducing OCD symptoms -> serotonin affects OCD
- Nestadt et al 2010 - symptoms form other biological conditions -> supports OCD being biological
- Neural systems don’t work normally with OCD -> shows brain dysfunction

Question 15

Limitations of neural explanations (OCD)

Answer 15

No unique neural system (not only disorder associated with serotonin [depression])
Correlational evidence only (doesn’t show a causational relationship - uncertain of OCD or another factor causing abnormality)

Question 16

Strengths of biological treatments (OCD)

Answer 16

Evidenced (Soomro et al 2009 - 17 studies compared SSRIs to placebos & 70% had symptoms were reduced with SSRIs)
Cost-effective (cheap & non-disruptive to daily life)

Question 17

Limitations of biological treatments (OCD)

Answer 17

Side effects (could have no benefit & some experience temporary or long-term side effects i.e. loss of libido or indigestion -> reduces quality of life)
Biased evidence (Goldacre 2013 - drug companies sponsor research)
Alternative treatments (Skapinakis et al 2016 - both cognitive & behavioural therapies are more effective than SSRIs)