Psychopathology: OCD

Question 1

Behavioural characteristics of OCD

Answer 1

compulsions

avoidance

Question 2

What are compulsions?

Answer 2

same behaviour repeated in a ritualistic way to reduce anxiety

Question 3

Why is avoidance a behavioural characteristic of OCD

Answer 3

OCD managed by avoiding situation that triggers anxiety

Question 4

Cognitive characteristics of OCD

Answer 4

Obsessive thoughts

Insight into excessive anxiety

Question 5

What are obsessive thoughts?

Answer 5

Persistent thoughts which cause anxiety

90% of OCD sufferers have them

Question 6

What is meant by insight into excessive anxiety?

Answer 6

awareness thoughts and behaviours are irrational, but sufferer still hypervigilant

Question 7

Emotional characteristics of OCD

Answer 7

guilt & disgust

anxiety & distress

Question 8

Guilt & disgust

Answer 8

irrational guilt e.g. over a moral issue

disgust towards oneself

Question 9

Anxiety & distress

Answer 9

obsessive thoughts are unpleasant + frightening

Anxiety from thoughts = overwhelming

Question 10

Genetic explanation for OCD

Answer 10

candidate genes
polygenic
Aeitologically heterogeneous

Question 11

What is the genetic explanation?

Answer 11

OCD development due to individuals genes

Question 12

Candidate genes

Answer 12

specific genes linked to certain disorders

Question 13

Examples of candidate genes

Answer 13

5-HT1 beta
SERT gene
COMT gene

Question 14

5-HT1 beta

Answer 14

implicated in the efficiency of transport of serotonin (SERT gene) across synapse

Question 15

COMT gene

Answer 15

regulates dopamine production

Question 16

OCD is polygenic

Answer 16

OCD is not caused by one gene, but several

Question 17

Polygenic support - Taylor et al

Answer 17

Found evidence up to 230 genes may be involved in OCD

Genes related to OCD are associated w/ action of serotonin and dopamine

Question 18

aeitologically heterogenous

Answer 18

one group of genes may cause OCD in one person, but another group of genes may cause OCD in another

Question 19

Neural explanations

Answer 19

Low levels of serotonin = lower mood
abnormal functioning of frontal lobes
abnormal functioning of parahippocampal gyrus

Question 20

low levels of serotonin mean

Answer 20

lower mood

Question 21

parahippocampul gyrus is associated with what?

Answer 21

processing unpleasant emotions

Question 22

what functions abnormally in people with OCD?

Answer 22

frontal lobes

parahippocampul gyrus

Question 23

frontal lobes role

Answer 23

decision making

Question 24

A03: biological explanation disadvantage

Answer 24

reductionist
E.g. low lvls of serotonin causes OCD
ignores factors such as childhood experiences

Question 25

A03: Cromer et al

Answer 25

found over half of OCD patients in his sample suffered a traumatic event in their past suggets OCD not entirely genetic origin

Question 26

A03: Nestadt 2010

Answer 26

twin study MZ twins: 68% experience OCD DZ twins: 31% experience OCD suggests strong genetic component

Question 27

A03: Nestadt 2010

Answer 27

twin study MZ twins: 68% experience OCD DZ twins: 31% experience OCD

Question 28

A03: What does Nestadt's review of twin studies suggest?

Answer 28

Suggests strong genetic component bc MZ twins share same genes, more likely to share characteristics of OCD

Question 29

A03: Against twin studies

Answer 29

unsure of genes involved in OCD each genetic variation increases risk of OCD by a fraction genetic explanations aren't useful - little predictive power

Question 30

What do antidepressant drugs do?

Answer 30

Increase levels of serotonin, because low lvls are associated with OCD

Question 31

SSRI

Answer 31

Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitor | An antidepressant used to treat OCD symptoms

Question 32

How do SSRI's effect serotonin?

Answer 32

Increase lvls of serotonin in brain | Block reabsorption of serotonin, therefore more passes into postsynaptic neuron - continues stimulating

Question 33

Typical SSRI dosage?

Answer 33

20mg

Question 34

Type of SSRI

Answer 34

Fluxoetine

Question 35

how does the SSRI Fluxoetine work?

Answer 35

blocks reuptake more serotonin available in synapse continues to stimulate post-synaptic neuron

Question 36

What can SSRI's be combined with?

Answer 36

Other treatments

Question 37

Why are drugs used alongside psychological treatments like OCD?

Answer 37

Drug reduces emotional symptoms so patient engages better w/ psychological treatments

Question 38

Alternatives to SSRI's

Answer 38

Tricyclics | SNRI's

Question 39

When are alternatives to SSRI's considered?

Answer 39

After 3-4 months

Question 40

When is dosage of SSRI increased?

Answer 40

If SSRI isn't effective after 3 - 4 months

Question 41

What happens if SSRI isn't effective?

Answer 41

dosage increase or combine with other drugs

Question 42

Tricyclics

Answer 42

Same effect on serotonin system but more side effects

Question 43

Tricyclic drug

Answer 43

Clomipramine

Question 44

SNRI's

Answer 44

used on patients who don't respond well to SSRI's

Question 45

What do SNRI's do?

Answer 45

increase lvls of serotonin and noradrenaline

Question 46

A03: Somoro et al (2009) procedure

Answer 46

Reviewed studies comparing SSRI's to placebos

Question 47

A03: Somoro et al (2009) findings

Answer 47

SSRI's showed better results (70% more effective) in comparison to placebos Effectiveness greatest when drugs + psychological treatment

Question 48

A03: Side effects

Answer 48

Clomipramine side effects more common and serious | Reduce effectiveness bc people stop taking medication

Question 49

A03: Clomipramine 1 in 10 suffer....

Answer 49

erection problems weight gain tremors

Question 50

A03: Clomipramine 1 in 100 suffer.....

Answer 50

disruption to blood pressure and heart rhythm

Question 51

A03: source giving side effects of Clomipramine

Answer 51

www.NHS.co.uk

Question 52

A03: drugs non-disruptive and cost-effective

Answer 52

relevant bc using drug treatments = good value to public health systems like NHS.

Question 53

A03: SSRI's vs therapy

Answer 53

SSRI non-disruptive to peoples lives