Brainscape's Knowledge GenomeTM

Browse over 1 million classes created by top students, professors, publishers, and experts.


See full index

Psychology > Psychopathology- OCD (Biological) > Flashcards

Psychopathology- OCD (Biological) Flashcards

You may prefer our related Brainscape-certified flashcards:
Psychology 101 flashcards GRE® Psychology flashcards AP® Psychology flashcards
1
Q

What are the 3 emotional characteristics of OCD?

A

-Anxiety and distress
-Guilt and disgust
-Accompanying depression

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
2
Q

Explain the emotional characteristics of OCD

A

Anxiety and distress- obsessive thoughts are unpleasant and frightening and the anxiety that goes with these can be overwhelming
Guilt and disgust- Irrational guilt over a minor moral issue or disgust which is directed at themself or something external
Accompanying depression- may suffer from low mood

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
3
Q

Name the 2 behavioural characteristics

A

-Compulsions
-Avoidance

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
4
Q

Explain the behavioural characteristics

A

Compulsions- Actions that are carried out repeatedly such as handwashing which is ritualistic and reduces anxiety
Avoidance- avoiding situations which trigger anxiety

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
5
Q

What are the 2 cognitive characteristics

A

-Obsessive thoughts
-Insight into excessive anxiety

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
6
Q

Explain the cognitive characteristics

A

Obsessive thoughts-Intrusive thoughts (about 90%) of sufferers)
Insight into excessive anxiety- awareness that thoughts and anxiety are irrational

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
7
Q

Define OCD

A

Obsessive-compulsive disorder is a mental health condition where a person has obsessive thoughts and compulsive activity

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
8
Q

What is an obsession?

A

Unwanted and unpleasant thoughts (cognition), images or urges that repeatedly enter a person’s mind, causing feelings of anxiety, disgust or unease

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
9
Q

Define compulsion

A

A repetitive behaviour or mental act that temporarily relieves unpleasant feelings brought on by obsessive thoughts, carrying out these is time-consuming and interferes with normal functions

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
10
Q

1.__ in every 1000 people in the UK

A

12

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
11
Q

What are some common obsessions?

A

Contamination illness, aggression, sex, symmetry

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
12
Q

What are some common compulsions

A

Washing and ritualistic behaviour

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
13
Q

What are some categories included in OCD?

A

OCD
Hoarding disorder- acquiring possessions and having trouble discarding them
Trichotillomania- compulsively pulling/breaking hair
Excoriation disorder- skin picking disorder

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
14
Q

Define concordance rate

A

A measure of genetic similarity

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
15
Q

What is dopamine?

A

Neurotransmitters which effects motivation and drive

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
16
Q

Define gene

A

Part of a chromosome that carries information in the form of DNA

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
17
Q

What is a transmitter?

A

Chemical substances that play an important role in the work of the nervous system by transmitting nerve impulses across a synapse

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
18
Q

What did Lewis (1936) find?

A

-Genes are involved in how vulnerable we may be to OCD
observed OCD in his patients and found 37% had parents with OCD and 21% had siblings with OCD
-More likely to inherit OCD

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
19
Q

What is the diathesis-stress model?

A

The explanation is that a disorder or behaviour trait is the result of an interaction between genetic predisposition vulnerability and stress, usually caused by life events and factors.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
20
Q

What are candidate genes?

A

Genes that create vulnerability for OCD

21
Q

Give 2 examples of candidate genes and what they do

A

SERT gene- linked with serotonin transportation, defective SERT genes mean serotonin can be disrupted
COMT gene- helps to regulate dopamine, low activity = increased dopamine

22
Q

OCD is polygenic

A

Ocd is not caused by one single gene but several genes

23
Q

What were Taylor ‘s(2013) findings?

A

-Up to 230 different genes may be involved with 2013
-Genes associated with dopamine and serotonin

24
Q

Give a strength of genetic explanations (genetic makeup)

A

-Genetic point
-Twin studies (Nestadt et al) 2010 found that 68% of identical twins had OCD as opposed to 31% of non-identical twins
-Monozygotic twins share 100% of their DNA so have a higher concordance rated twins only share 50%
-strongly suggests a genetic influence of OCD

25
Q

Give a weakness of genetic explanations (Gnenes involved

A

-Twin studies show that OCd is largely under control of genetics but psychologists have not pinned down all the genes involved
-Several genes are involved and each genetic variation only increases the risk of OCD by a fraction
-Lacks specific details, don’t know which genes are responsible so more research is needed
-Not very useful as it does not tell us everything

26
Q

Give a strength of genetic explanations (environmental factors)

A

-The environment can also trigger the risk of developing OCD
-Diatheis stress model
-Cromer et al found half of the OCD patients in their sample had a traumatic event in their past and that OCDS was more severe in those with more than one trauma
-Cannot be explained by genetics alone there are often environmental triggers

27
Q

What is the role of serotonin and dopamine in OCD?

A

Low levels of seratonin= OCD
high levels of dopamine =OCD

28
Q

What decision-making systems are involved in OCD

A

-Frontal lobe functions abnormally so decsion making is impaired (logical thoughts

29
Q

<Give a strength of neural explanations (drugs)

A

-eVidnece to support
–Antidepressants work soley on the seratonin system increasing levels of neurotransmitters
-Such drugs are effective in reducing OCD symptoms which suggests seratonin (neural mechanisms) is involved
-

30
Q

Give a weakness of neural explanations (no systems always play a role)

A

-Studies of decision making have shown that these neural systems are the same systems that function abnormally in OCD
-However reserach has also shown that other brain systems may be invloved by no system has always been found to play a role
-We cannot be sure abouty genetiuc influences either
-We dont know exactly what they do as their is no solid evidence
-

31
Q

Give another weakness of neural explanations (biological abnormalities could be a result of OCD rathet than its cause)

A

-Evidnce to suggest that various neurotransmitters and structure of the brain dont function niormally however this is noit the same as saying that thius is abnormal functioning causes the OCD these biological abnormalities could be as a result of OCD rather than its cause
-Cannot be explained by neural mechanisms alone 2

32
Q

What is the aim of drug therapies?

A

Increase or decrease levels of neurotransmitters in the brain to increase/decrease their activity

33
Q

Whta is the standard medical treatment for OCD?

A

Selective seratonin reuptake inhibitor (ssRIs)

34
Q

What is the function of SSRIs?

A

Prevent ththe reabsorption and breakdown of seratonin in the brain which increases its levels in the synapse and thus sseratonin continues to stimulate the piotosynaptic neuron
This compensates for ehatever is wrong with the seratonin system in OCD

35
Q

What is the 1st step of SsRis?

A

Block a reuptake channel so that sertonin from the vesicle cznnot get bcak into the presynaptic nuron
s

36
Q

What is the 2nd step of ssris

A

Means more seratonin in the synapse therefore it is more liekly to a attach a post synaptic recaptor

37
Q

What is the 3rd step pof SSris

A

Keeps the cahnne;l open so that the messgae cvvan transmit quickly

38
Q

What is the 4th step of SSRIs

A

Lack of seratonin can result in OCD

39
Q

What is the 5th step of SSIRs

A

Seratonin can still get out of the blocked reuptake cahnnel
however it cannot get back in

40
Q

Whta is the main SSRi and what is the typical dose for it?

A

-Fluoxetine
-20 mg

41
Q

How long does it take the SSRis to have an effect on symptoms?

A

3-4 months of daily use

42
Q

What is a limitation of SSris?

A

-Symptoms could worsen
-People will not see an immediate difference and may stop takuing thwm

43
Q

What are the 2 alternitives to SSRIs and how do they work?

A

Tricyclics-hav ethe same effect on seratonin system as ssris but side effects can be ,more severe
SNRIs-seratonin nonadrenline reuptake inhibitor, second option for paitents who dont respond to SSris,increase levels lrvels of seratonin and nonadreniline

44
Q

How do antianziety drugs reduce anxiety?

A

They slow down activity of the central nervous system by enhnacing activity of GABA

45
Q

What are SSRIs sometimes used in combination with?

A

CBT

46
Q

Give a positive for the biological approach to OCD (Drug therapy)

A

-Clear eveidence of drug therapy being eefcetive at atckling OCD symptoms
-SSRIs are effective at reducingf severity of OCD symptoms and improv ethe quality of lifge for some OCD paitents
-Soomroet al (2009) reviewed studies comparing SSRIs to placebos
-All 17 studies showed an improvement ins ymptoms than the placebon
-symptoms reduce by about 70%
-Real klife application
-can lead a somehwta normla life

47
Q

Give a positive for the biological approach to OCD (Cost effective)

A

-Cheaper than psychological treatments
-Positive implications for the economy and good value for the NHS
-NON disruptive to paitenmts live compared to therapy
-Thearpy can be time consuming and has waitlists
-Lead refgualr lives
-Easier to administer

48
Q

Give a negative of the biologicval approach (Side effects)

A

-Can significantly improve symtoms but the majority will see no benefit
-Can suffer side effects such a sirritability, sleep pattern disturncaes headaches and loss of apitite
-Side effects can be worse than the OCD itself
-Questions regrading the ffectiveness

Psychology (44 decks)

Brainscape helps you reach your goals faster, through stronger study habits.
© 2024 Bold Learning Solutions. Terms and Conditions