Psycopathology - OCD Flashcards
Behavioural characteristics of OCD
Compulsion/repetitive behaviour
Avoidance
What are compulsions and repetitive behaviour
Behavioural characteristic of OCD
Repetitive actions that can hinder the individuals ability to perform daily tasks
Reduce anxiety created from the depression - they have to do this so something bad doesn’t happen
What is avoidance
Behavioural characteristic of OCD
Reduce anxiety by avoiding things that may trigger their OCD
Emotional characteristics of OCD
High Anxiety/Low Mood
Disgust/Self-Loathing
What is High Anxiety
Emotional characteristic of OCD
Obsessions - source of considerable anxiety and distress
Aware that their behaviour is obsessive - could be embarrassed and shameful
Can’t control their behaviour - strong feelings of distress
What is disgust
Emotional characteristics
Disgust at the source of the obsessions or directed towards self
Cognitive characteristics of OCD
Obsessive thoughts/Irrational beliefs
Insight into irrationality of thoughts and beliefs/awareness that irrational
Hyper-vigilance/Selective Attention
What are obsessive thoughts and irrational beliefs
Persistent and intrusive that are perceived as inappropriate or forbidden - frightening or embarrassing
Commonly - doubts, impulses, images
Catastrophic thinking when people with OCD think something will happen if their compulsion is not carried out
Insight into irrationality of thoughts and behaviour/awareness of irrationality
Most understand their compulsive behaviours and obsessive thoughts are inappropriate and irrational but cannot control or stop them
Hyper-vigilance/selective attention
Increased awareness of source of obsession in new situations
Quick to find it or notice it
What is the biological approach to ocd
Assumes that OCD is caused by genetic and biochemical factors
What does polygenic mean and how does this related to OCD
OCD is polygenic. Polygenic means that one single gene is NOT responsible but as many as 230 genes might be responsible
What is aetiological heterogeneity
Suggests that difference combinations of genes may cause the disorder in different people
What is the COMT gene
this gene regulates production of the neurotransmitter dopamine
One variation results in higher levels of dopamine - common in OCD patients
What is the SERT gene
Affects the transportation of serotonin, causing lower levels of serotonin
Low levels of serotonin have been linked to OCD
Two strengths of genetics explanations
Nestadt found the condordance rates for OCD between monzygotic twins (68%) was significantly higher than dizygotic twins (32%)
Animal studies have found that there is a genetic basis for repetitive ritualistic behaviour in animals. Ahmari found common gene in mice who display ritualistic behaviour
What are concordance rates
Perfect of cases in which both members of a pair have a particular attribute
Weakness of Genetic explanations
Around half of ocd cases tend to follow trauma, undermining genetic explanation of OCD. Also cannot count for cases where there was no ocd in family history
How does dopamine affect ocd
OCD sufferers have high levels of dopamine
Linked to over hyperactivity in the basal ganglia in the brain- causes repetitive motor functions
How does serotonin affect ocd and where does it operate
Key role in operating the caudate nucleus in the basal ganglia of the brain
Low levels of serotonin cause caudate nucleus to malfunctions - results in obsessions
One strength of Neural explanations
Antidepressants increase serotonin levels in ocd - leads to reduction of ocd symptoms
Good evidence to suggest low levels of serotonin could be a cause for OCD
One weakness of neural explanations
Neurotransmitters such as dopamine and serotonin might not cause ocd, instead low serotonin and high dopamine could be symptoms of OCD
Outline aim of drug therapy
Drug therapy to correct imbalance of neurochemicals by increasing or decreasing levels of neurotransmitters in order to reduce symptoms
Which antidepressant drug affects serotonin
Selective serotonin Re-uptake inhibitors
Prozac, fluoxetine
How is serotonin transported and broken down
Released by presynaptic neurons and travels across synaptic cleft (gap between the neurons)
Chemically conveys signal from presynaptic neuron to postsynaptic neuron
Then re-absorbed by presynaptic neuron where it is broken down and reused
Neuron that releases serotonin
Presynaptic neuron
Neuron that reabsorbs serotonin
Postsynaptic neuron
What do the SSRI’s do
Prevent reabosrnrion and breakdown of serotonin and increase the level of serotonin in synapse where it stimulates the postynaptic neuron
This would reduce anxiety
How long does it take for SSRIs to make an impact
Typically takes 3-4 months of daily use for SSRIs to impact upon symptoms
Dosage may increase if it’s not benefiting the patient
Two strengths of Serotonin Re-Uptake Inhibitors
Soomro reviewed 17 studies that compared ssri to placebo and all 17 studies shows ssri was more effective than placebos, especially with CBT
70% of patients experience decline in OCD symptoms when taking ssri. Remaining 30% opt for therapies or combination or ssri and therapies
One weakness of serotonin reuptake inhibitors
Have severe side effects - patients might stop taking medication then
Side effects are indigestion, blurred vision and loss of sex drive
What do Benzodiazepines do
Slow down the activity of central nervous system by enhancing activity of neurotransmitters GABA
GABA has inhibitory effect on neurons
How does GABA inhibit neurons
Reacts with special sites called GABA receptors on the outside of neurons
When GABA locks into these receptors it opens channel increases chloride ions flow into neuron
Chloride ions make it harder for the neuron receptors to be stimulated by other neurotransmitters
This slows down activity and makes person relaxes
What do chloride ions do to the neuron
Chloride ions make it harder for the neuron to be stimulated by other neurotransmitters, slowing down neural activity
One strength of Benzodiazepines
Can reduce anxiety levels and OCD symptoms in a short period of time
Instant relief - good
One weakness of Benzodiazepines
Unwanted side effects - drowsiness, depression and unpredictable interactions with alcohol
Ashton found patents become dependent and withdrawal leads to high anxiety and ocd symptoms
Patients need to take larger doses more often because their bodies get used it
