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Psychopathology- OCD (Biological) Flashcards

1
Q

What are the 3 emotional characteristics of OCD?

A

-Anxiety and distress
-Guilt and disgust
-Accompanying depression

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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

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3
Q

Name the 2 behavioural characteristics

A

-Compulsions
-Avoidance

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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

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5
Q

What are the 2 cognitive characteristics

A

-Obsessive thoughts
-Insight into excessive anxiety

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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
Coping mechanisms to deal with the obsessive thoughts-
identifying the obsessive thought as it occurs
Catastrophising around their OCD

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7
Q

Define OCD

A

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

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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

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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

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10
Q

1.__ in every 1000 people in the UK

A

12

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11
Q

What are some common obsessions?

A

Contamination illness, aggression, sex, symmetry

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12
Q

What are some common compulsions

A

Washing and ritualistic behaviour

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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

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14
Q

Define concordance rate

A

A measure of genetic similarity

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15
Q

What is dopamine?

A

Neurotransmitters which effects motivation and drive

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16
Q

Define gene

A

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

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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

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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

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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.

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20
Q

What are candidate genes?

A

Genes that create vulnerability for OCD

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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, balance may help with obsessive thoughts
COMT gene- de-activating dopamine,helps to balance levels 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 2 strengths of genetic explanations (Twin studies)

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

-Each twin acts as the control for the other twin which means that individual differences are accounted for to some extent
-win studies tend to use large samples which results in robust quantitative data i.e. the research has good reliability
-Useful for investigation of heritibiltity

25
Give a weakness of genetic explanations (Gnenes involved
--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 -Lacks validity
26
Give a strength of genetic explanations (environmental factors)
-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
What is the role of serotonin and dopamine in OCD?
Low levels of serotonin OCD -Obsessive thoughts are thus more likely if serotonin levels in the frontal cortex are irregular/low high levels of dopamine =OCD - in the dorsomedial striatum (DSM) has been linked to the development of compulsive behaviours -Neural circuits connecting the cerebral cortex to the DSM are thought to control movement and reward-seeking behaviours (explains wwhy compulsions are carried out)
28
What decision-making systems are involved in OCD
-The frontal lobe functions abnormally so decision-making (logical, rational, reasonable thoughts) -Linked to executive functioning
29
-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 -validity --Not all OCD sufferers respond positively to SSRIs, which reduces the external validity of the theory -If SSRIs cannot treat all individuals with OCD, then the cause may not be solely neural
30
Give a weakness of neural explanations (no systems always play a role)
-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
Give another weakness of neural explanations (biological abnormalities could be a result of OCD rathet than its cause)
-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
What is the aim of drug therapies?
Increase or decrease levels of neurotransmitters in the brain to increase/decrease their activity
33
Whta is the standard medical treatment for OCD?
Selective seratonin reuptake inhibitor (ssRIs)
34
What is the function of SSRIs?
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
What is the 1st step of SsRis?
Block reuptake so that serotonin (from the vesicle) cannot get back into the presynaptic neuron
36
What is the 2nd step of ssris
-Means more serotonin in the synapse; therefore, it is more likely to attach a post-synaptic receptor -Prevention of reuptake makes serotonin more accessible in the brain
37
What is the 3rd step pof SSris
-Keeps the channel open so that the message can be transmitted quickly -More serotonin is then available to improve the transmission of messages between neurons
38
What is the 4th step of SSRIs
Lack of seratonin can result in OCD
39
What is the 5th step of SSIRs
-Seratonin can still get out of the blocked reuptake channel -However, it cannot get back in
40
Whta is the main SSRi and what is the typical dose for it?
-Fluoxetine -20 mg
41
How long does it take the SSRis to have an effect on symptoms?
3-4 months of daily use
42
What is a limitation of SSris?
-Symptoms could worsen -People will not see an immediate difference and may stop takuing thwm
43
What are the 2 alternitives to SSRIs and how do they work?
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
How do antianziety drugs reduce anxiety? (benzodiazepines (BZs))
-They slow down the activity of the central nervous system -by encouraging transmission (enhnacing activity)of gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) -GABA is a neurotransmitter which works to control neuron hyperactivity which is associated with fear, anxiety and stress -Reduction in obssesive thoughts
45
What are SSRIs sometimes used in combination with?
CBT
46
Give a positive for the biological approach to OCD (Drug therapy)
-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
Give a positive for the biological approach to OCD (Cost effective)
-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
Give a negative of the biologicval approach (Side effects)
-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
49
Give an evaluation point for biological explanation (Biologically reduuctionist)
-Ignoring the role that the environment plays in the development of a mental illness means that a genetic explanation is prone to biological reductionism -Twins are reared in the same environment which means that they are likely to respond to upbringing, family life etc. similarly -If the environment also contributes to OCD then a genetic explanation lacks fully explanatory power
50
Give an evaluation point for the neural explanation of OCD (scanning techniques)
-Research into a neural explanation of OCD tends to use objective, clinical methods such as fMRI scanning which is high in reliability -Although sophisticated apparatus (such as fMRIs) are used to measure brain activity this in itself is not 100% evidence of neurotransmission -The brain activity measured in an fMRI may be the result of other factors e.g. excitement/nervousness at being in the scanning machine -It is not yet possible to track and measure 'live' neurotransmission -Thus, it is only possible to claim that OCD have neurological correlates, there is no absolute 'proof' that irregular serotonin and dopamine levels cause OCD
51
Explain what is meant by reuptake (of seratonin)
-when molecules of serotonin do not cross the synaptic cleft -so they have not been transmitted to the postsynaptic neuron -The ‘spare’ molecules of serotonin are then taken back up into the presynaptic neuron
52
Why are SSRIs described as selective
mainly affect serotonin, not other neurotransmitters such as dopamine

Psychology (53 decks)

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