The biological approach to explaining and treating OCD

Question 1

What is the genetic explanation for OCD?

Answer 1

OCD being inherited through genetic transmission. Use gene-mapping studies - comparing genetic material from sufferers and non-sufferers. Some genes have been found to be linked to OCD than other.

Question 2

What is the procedure for Grootheest, Cath, Beekman and Boomsma review of twin studies?

Answer 2

Twins studies:
Old literature - studies done between 1929 and 65 - there were 9 studies with 37 twin pairs.
Studies meeting modern criteria - studies were diagnosed under DSM criteria - 19 studies with 9997 twin pairs.

Question 3

What are the findings for Grootheest, Cath, Beekman and Boomsma review of twin studies?

Answer 3

Studies where methodology and statistical analysis were sufficiently objective to gain useful data, in children OCD symptoms are heritable with genetic influences 45-65% and in adults OCD heritable with genetic influences 27-47%.

Question 4

Give evaluations for Grootheest, Cath, Beekman and Boomsma review of twin studies

Answer 4

The majority of the studies weren’t done in large enough numbers or under methodological conditions sufficient enough gather objective data.

Question 5

What is Samuels et al’s study and how does it support genetic explanation for OCD?

Answer 5

Used gene mapping to compare OCD sufferers who had compulsive hoarding behaviour with those who didn’t and found a link to chromosome 14 marker D14S588, implying a genetic influence to compulsive hoarding behaviour.

Question 6

What is Stewart et al’s research and how does it support genetic explanation for OCD?

Answer 6

Performed gene mapping on OCD patients and family members and found a variant of the OLIG-2 gene commonly occurred.

Question 7

What are the strengths of the genetic explanation for OCD?

Answer 7

Evidence shows that genetic factors are in some forms of OCD, especially obsessions about contamination, aggression and religion - some types of OCD are more genetic in nature than others.

Question 8

What are the limitations of the genetic explanation for OCD?

Answer 8

The fact that family members display dissimilar OCD symptoms, weakens support for the explanation.
There isn’t one single gene that causes OCD, many genes scattered throughout the genome each contribute a small amount to risk of OCD.

Question 9

What are neural explanations for explaining OCD?

Answer 9

Breakdowns in the immune system eg through throat infections. It is also low levels of serotonin linked to OCD. OCD patients can have high levels of activity in the orbital frontal cortex involved with high level thought processes - helps initiate activity upon receiving impulses to act & then to stop when the impulse lessens.

Question 10

What is Pichichero’s research and how does it support the neural explanation for OCD?

Answer 10

Case studies from the US National Institute of Health showed that children with throat infections showed symptoms of OCD and Tourettes syndrome.

Question 11

What is Zohar et al’s research and how does it support the neural explanation for OCD?

Answer 11

Gave mCPP, a drug that reduces serotonin levels, to 12 OCD patients and 20 non-OCD and found symptoms of OCD were significantly enhanced in OCD patients.

Question 12

Give evaluations of the neural explanation for OCD?

Answer 12

It is thoughts that infections which reduce immune system functioning don’t cause OCD but may trigger those genetically vulnerable.
TWE abnormal levels of serotonin and activity within frontal orbital cortex are actual causes of OCD or merely effects of the disorder hasn’t been established.
Not all sufferers respond positively to serotonin enhancing drugs.

Question 13

What is drug therapy and how can it be used to treat OCD?

Answer 13

Antidepressants are used to increase levels of serotonin and cause the orbital frontal cortex to function at more normal levels.(SSRIs) Adults - fluoxetine, children aged 6 - sertraline and fluvoxamine for 8+.

Question 14

What type of drugs are used to treat OCD?

Answer 14

(SSRIs) Adults - fluoxetine, children aged 6 - sertraline and fluvoxamine for 8+.

Question 15

What is the procedure for Koran, Ringold & Elliott’s research on OCD?

Answer 15

10 OCD patients who weren’t successful with treatment of at least 60 mg a day for 10 weeks of the SRI drug fluoxetine.
They had a failed mean of 3.3 SRI trials and had mean Y-BOCS score of 29.0.
2.5 mg a day of olanzapine was added to the treatment for 2 weeks and gradually increased.

Question 16

What are the findings for Koran, Ringold & Elliott’s research on OCD?

Answer 16

Mean Y-BOCS scores were 24.4.
One patient’s score dropped by 68%.
Only one patient was rated as much improved.
6 patients experienced significant weight increase.

Question 17

Give evaluations for Koran, Ringold & Elliott’s research on OCD

Answer 17

Results would need to be confirmed by double-blind, placebo controlled trials to be confirmed.
Psychological harm from gaining weight.

Question 18

What is Ciccerone et al’s study on effectiveness of drug therapies?

Answer 18

Investigated the effect of low doses of the antipsychotic drug risperidone in treating OCD & found treatment effective due to the drug’s dopamine lowering effect.

Question 19

What are the strengths of drug therapy?

Answer 19

They are widely used, cheap, don’t require a therapist to administer them and are user friendly.
They reduce obsessive thoughts and compulsive behaviour to such a level that a more normal lifestyle can be achieved.

Question 20

What are the limitations of drug therapy?

Answer 20

Side effects they experience - irritability, change in sleep pattern and headaches.
Some argue that the tendency of anti-depressants to produce heightened levels of suicidal thinking that they shouldn’t be used.

Question 21

What is psychosurgery?

Answer 21

Destroying brain tissue yo disrupt the cortico-striatal circuit by using radio-frequency waves - this has an effect on the orbital frontal cortex, the thalamus and is associated with a reduction in symptoms.

Question 22

What is Richter et al’s study on psychosurgery?

Answer 22

30% of OCD patients had a 35% reduction in symptoms but there were occasional complications such as urinary incontinence and seizures.

Question 23

What is O’Conner et al’s study on CBT and drug therapy?

Answer 23

Patients received either drugs and CBT together, CBT only, drugs only or no treatment. Most symptom reduction were seen in drugs and CBT together especially when drugs given first.

Question 24

Give evaluations for CBT as a treatment for OCD

Answer 24

It isn’t suitable for patients who struggle with talking about inner feelings or those who don’t possess the verbal skills to do so.