Psychopathology - The Biological Approach To Explaining & Treating OCD

Question 1

What is an obsession?

Answer 1

An unwanted & unpleasant thought, image or urge that repeatedly enters your mind causing anxiety, disgust or unease

Question 2

What is a compulsion?

Answer 2

A repetitive behaviour or mental act you feel you need to do to temporarily relieve the unpleasant feelings brought on by the obsessive thought

Question 3

What is the OCD cycle?

Answer 3

obsessive thought -> anxiety -> compulsive behaviour -> temporary relief

Question 4

What are the 4 different possible causes of OCD?

Answer 4

Family history/ genetics
Differences in the brain (neurochemistry)
Life events
Personality

Question 5

How can family history/genetics be a cause of OCD?

Answer 5

Someone is more likely to develop OCD if their family member has it

Question 6

How can Differences in the brain (neurochemistry) be a cause of neurochemistry?

Answer 6

Some people with OCD have high areas of unusually high brain activity and low levels of serotonin

Question 7

How might life events be a cause of OCD?

Answer 7

OCD is more common in people bullied, abused or neglected & can start after an important life event e.g. bereavement

Question 8

How might personality be a cause of OCD?

Answer 8

Neat, meticulous, methodical people are more likely to develop OCD & people who are generally anxious/ have a strong sense of responsibility for others

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Question 29

What are drug therapies?

Answer 29

treatments that aim to increase/decrease levels of neurotransmitters in the brain in order to increase/decrease their activity Usually work to increase levels of serotonin in the brain

Question 30

What are SSRIs?

Answer 30

Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors

Question 31

How is serotonin released in the brain?

Answer 31

Serotonin is released by the presynaptic neurons & travels across a synapse. Serotonin chemically conveys the signal from the pre to post synaptic neuron then it is reabsorbed by the presynaptic neuron (its broken down & released)

Question 32

How do SSRIs work to increase serotonin levels in the brain?

Answer 32

They prevent the reabsorption & breakdown of serotonin so the postsynaptic neuron continues to be stimulated

Question 33

What is the typical dosage of SSRIs?

Answer 33

Typical dosage is 20mg but varies according to the type

Question 34

How long does it take for symptoms to reduce using SSRIs?

Answer 34

3/4 months

Question 35

What are Tricyclics?

Answer 35

An older type of antidepressant

Question 36

What is an example of a tricyclic?

Answer 36

Clomipramine - has more severe side effects so it is usually reserved for treatment if a patient isn't responding to SSRIs

Question 37

What are SNRIs?

Answer 37

Serotonin-Noradrenaline Reuptake Inhibitors A 2nd line of defence if patients don't respond to SSRIs

Question 38

What do SNRIs do in the brain?

Answer 38

They increase levels of serotonin & noradrenaline

Question 39

What are Benzodiazepines?

Answer 39

tbc

Question 40

How is a combination of SSRIs & CBT a treatment for OCD?

Answer 40

The drugs reduce the patient's emotional symptoms (e.g. anxiety & depression) so people are more motivated to engage in CBT which can help there OCD symptoms overall improve

Question 41

How is Psychosurgery & deep brain stimulation a treatment for OCD?

Answer 41

tbc

Question 42

What are the advantages of drug therapies to treat OCD?

Answer 42

- Soomro et al -> reviewed 17 studies comparing SSRIs & placebos in OCD treatment & found that in all 17 the SSRIs were better at treating OCD than placebos - most effective being treated with CBT & 70% of patients taking SSRIs had there symptoms decline massively but the other 30% needed alternative treatments so drugs can help most individuals They are cost effective & non-disruptive to people's lives - theyre of better value to the NHS & flexible as treatment can stop when symptoms disappear - doctors & patients like the treatment

Question 43

What are the disadvantages of using drug therapies to treat OCD?

Answer 43

Drugs can have side effects -> some patients suffer side effects that are predominatley short term (e.g. indigestion), but Clomipramine has side effects that are more common & serious e.g. more than 1 in 10 suffer erection problems, tremors & weight gain & more than 1 in 100 suffer problem with blood pressure & heart rhythm. Unreliable evidence -> (Goldacre) believes that evidence favouring drug treatments are biased as research is sponsored by drug companies who don't report all the evidence despite SSRIs being highly effective to treat OCD