> psychopathology - OCD - characteristics

Question 1

define OCD

Answer 1

a disorder characterised by obsessions (repetitive thoughts, images etc) and/or compulsions (repetitive behaviours eg hand washing). most patients diagnosed with OCD tend to have both.

Question 2

symptoms of OCD?

Answer 2

-repetitive intrusive thoughts
-anxiety reducing behaviours

Question 3

how common is OCD?

Answer 3

within 2% of population

Question 4

what does the DSM say about OCD?

Answer 4

-recognises OCD + other related disorders
-they have repetitive behaviours in common accompanied by obsessive thinking

Question 5

what are the other disorders related to OCD?

Answer 5

-trichotillomania: compulsive hair pulling
-hoarding disorder: compulsively collecting possessions, inability to part with something regardless of its value
-excoriation disorder: compulsive skin picking

Question 6

what does the OCD worry cycle explain?

Answer 6

connection between obsessions + compulsions

Question 7

how does the OCD worry cycle work? what are the stages?

Answer 7

-a persons obsessions cause them to feel anxious -> compulsive behaviour -> temporary relief
-obsessions -> anxiety -> compulsions -> relief

Question 8

what are the 5 DSM criteria for symptoms of OCD?

Answer 8

-presence of obsessions/compulsions/both
-obsessions defined as (1 + 2)
-compulsions defined as (1 + 2)
-note: young children may not be able to articulate the aims of their behaviours/mental acts
-obsessions + compulsions are time consuming (eg an hour or more), can cause clinically significant distress/impairment in social, occupational + other important areas of life
-OCD symptoms due to affect of substance = non attributable eg drug abuse, medication, other disorders

Question 9

what are the 3 types of characteristics?

Answer 9

-behavioural
-emotional
-cognitive

Question 10

behavioural?

Answer 10

-compulsions, repetitive behaviours that the patient feels compelled to repeat (eg ordering items, counting, hand washing) -> purpose, to reduce anxiety however the two aren’t usually connected in any realistic way
-avoidance, person may avoid situations that trigger anxiety all together eg avoiding germs

Question 11

emotional?

Answer 11

-anxiety/distress
-germ obsession -> disgust
-symptoms of depression accompanying OCD
-shame/embarrassment of their behaviours

Question 12

cognitive?

Answer 12

-obsessive thoughts, dominant thoughts, images, beliefs that are reoccurring (eg locking doors or contamination)
-may have intrusive thoughts/impulses that are perceived as inappropriate/forbidden
-OCD patients have an insight to their thoughts + often aware they are irrational

Question 13

what is really important to emphasise when describing difference between obsessions + compulsions?

Answer 13

-obsessions -> internal components
-compulsions -> external components

Question 14

researchers analysed the behaviour of over 4000 pairs of twins. The results showed that the degree to which obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) is inherited is between 45% and 65%

with reference to the study described above, what do the results seem to show about possible influences on the development of OCD?

Answer 14

-results show that OCD is atleast partly inherited
-findings suggest that heritability is high (45% - 65%)
-means that there must also be other explanations for OCD (as score isn’t 100%)
-other factors: biological, environmental partly account for OCD