Psychopathology - Treating OCD

Question 1

The biological approach Explains mental health conditions (including
OCD) as being due

Answer 1

to faulty physical processes

Question 2

Biological approach’s explanation includes

Answer 2

the physical structure of your DNA, inherited from your parents. DNA codes for other aspects of your biology, such as how neurotransmitters are processed in the synapse and the development and functioning of larger structures such as brain regions.

Question 3

How many people does OCD affect and what does its symptoms include?

Answer 3

OCD affects approximately 1 in 50 people, its symptoms include obsessive thoughts and compulsive behaviours.

Question 4

Obsessive thoughts are

Answer 4

repetitive, distressing mental images or concerns that provoke anxiety.

Question 5

Compulsions are

Answer 5

actions that individuals feel they need to perform to reduce the discomfort caused by these thoughts.

Question 6

The relief after performing a compulsion is…?

Answer 6

Unfortunately, their relief is only temporary, as obsessive thoughts quickly return.

Question 7

Common obsessions
Repetitive thoughts

Answer 7

Contamination/ infection
Burglary/ theft
Electrical fire

Question 8

Common obsessions
Repetitive thoughts

Answer 8

Contamination/ infection
Burglary/ theft
Electrical fire

Question 9

Common compulsions

Answer 9

Cleaning hands or surfaces
Checking doors are locked
Checking power switches are off

Question 10

Genetic explanation
Is there one ocd gene?

Answer 10

There is no one OCD gene; however, it’s thought a vulnerability or predisposition to OCD is inherited from parents.

Question 11

Genetic explanation
What has Genetic analysis revealed?

Answer 11

Genetic analysis has revealed around 230 separate “candidate genes” found more frequently in people with OCD; many candidate genes influence the functioning of neural systems in the brain; for example, the SERT gene affects reuptake in the serotonin system. Other identified genes include gene 9, COMT gene, and SHT1-D beta gene.

Question 12

As so many candidate genes have been identified, this suggests

Answer 12

OCD is polygenic, meaning a predisposition to OCD requires a range of genetic changes

Question 13

✅Evidence for the heritability of OCD

Answer 13

Evidence comes from family and twin studies.

As the prevalence rate of OCD in the general population is 2%, the concordance rate (the odds of one person having a trait if the other does) between someone with OCD and a random stranger is also 2%
However, with OCD, the more closely genetically related two people are, the higher the concordance; first-degree relatives have 10% concordance, and non-identical/ dizygotic twins have 31% concordance (50% shared genes). Identical/monozygotic twins share 100% of their genes and have a 68% concordance rate. This suggests a predisposition to OCD is inherited.

Question 14

Neural explanations for OCD include

Answer 14

biochemical causes, an imbalance of neurotransmitters (chemicals that communicate information between neurons) and the large neural structures in the brain that are made of many neurons (cells).

Question 15

Neural explanations

What is thought to cause obsessive thoughts in relation to serotonin levels?

Answer 15

Low serotonin levels are thought to cause obsessive thoughts.

Question 16

Neutral explanations
What likely causes low serotonin levels in the synapse?

Answer 16

Low serotonin levels are likely due to serotonin being removed too quickly from the synapse before it can transmit its signal to the postsynaptic cell.

Question 17

Neural explanations
What role do serotonin and other neurotransmitters play in the brain?

Answer 17

Serotonin and other neurotransmitters act as chemical messengers between neurons.

Question 18

Neural explanations

What happens after neurotransmitters are released by the presynaptic neuron?

Answer 18

Receptors on the postsynaptic neuron detect the neurotransmitters; if the signal is strong enough, the message is passed on, and the neurotransmitters detach from the receptors.

Question 19

What process removes neurotransmitters from the synapse after they transmit a signal?

Answer 19

The neurotransmitters are taken back to the presynaptic neuron through a process called reuptake.

Question 20

How does the reuptake process relate to OCD?

Answer 20

In people with OCD, reuptake may happen too quickly, leading to reduced serotonin levels in the synapse.

Question 21

What is the SERT gene responsible for?

Answer 21

The SERT gene is responsible for serotonin transportation in the synapse.

Question 22

What is the “worry circuit” in the brain?

Answer 22

The “worry circuit” is a set of brain structures including the orbitofrontal cortex (OFC), the basal ganglia system (especially the caudate nucleus), and the thalamus.

Question 23

How does the “worry circuit” function in people with OCD?

Answer 23

Communication between the brain structures in the worry circuit appears to be overactive in people with OCD.

Question 24

What is the role of the basal ganglia in normal brain functioning?

Answer 24

The basal ganglia filter out minor worries coming from the orbitofrontal cortex (OFC).

Question 25

What happens if the basal ganglia are hyperactive?

Answer 25

If the basal ganglia are hyperactive, even small worries get to the thalamus, which then passes them back to the OFC, forming a loop (recurring obsessive thoughts).

Question 26

What are repetitive motor functions (compulsions) in OCD an attempt to do?

Answer 26

Repetitive motor functions (compulsions) are an attempt to break the worry loop.

Question 27

Do compulsions provide long-term relief in OCD?

Answer 27

No, while carrying out the compulsion may give temporary relief, the hyperactive basal ganglia will soon resume the worry circuit.

Question 28

What is the role of the parahippocampal gyrus in OCD?

Answer 28

The parahippocampal gyrus is responsible for regulating and processing unpleasant emotions and has been seen to function abnormally in cases of OCD.