task 5

Question 1

OCD criteria

Answer 1

A. presence of obsessions, compulsions of both:
Obsessions are defined by (1) and (2):
- Recurrent and persistent thoughts, urges, or images that are experienced, at some time during the disturbance, as intrusive and unwanted, and that in most individuals cause marked anxiety or distress.
- The individual attempts to ignore or suppress such thoughts, urges or images, or to neutralize them with some thought or action. (compulsion)

Compulsions are defined by (1) and (2)
- Repetitice behaviors (hand washing, ordering, checking) or mental acts (praying, counting, repeating words) that the individual feels driven to perform in response to an obsession or according to rules that must be applied rigidly
- The behaviors or mental acts are aimed at preventing or reducing anxiety or distress, or preventing some dreaded event/ situation: however, these behaviors or mental acts are not connected in a realistic way with what they are designed to neutralize or prevent, or are clearly excessive.

B. the obsessions or compulsions are time-consuming or cause simnifically distress or impairment in social, occupational or other important areas of functioning.
C. The obsessive-compulsive symptoms are not attributable to the physiological effects of a substance or another medical condition
D. the disturbance is not better explained by the symptoms of another mental disorder.

Question 2

OCD with good/ fair insight

Answer 2

Individual recognizes that OCD beliefs are definitely or probably not true

Question 3

OCD with poor insight

Answer 3

Thinks that OCD beliefs are probably true

Question 4

OCD with absent insight/ delusional beliefs

Answer 4

Completely convinced that the beliefs are true

Question 5

Beliefs in OCD: inflated responsibility

Answer 5

One can and should prevent negative outcomes

Question 6

Beliefs in OCD: over-importance of thoughts

Answer 6

The mere presence of a thought indicates that it is important

Question 7

Over-estimation of threat

Answer 7

Exaggeration (overdrijving) of the probability or severity of harm

Question 8

Importance of controlling thoughts

Answer 8

Over-evaluation: it is possible and important to have full control over one’s thoughts, images and urges.

Question 9

Intolerance of uncertainty

Answer 9

Belief about necessity of being 100% certain: perceived inability to deal with unpredictable change

Question 10

Perfectionism

Answer 10

Belief that there is a perfect solution to every problem: minor mistakes can have serious consequences

Question 11

Characteristics of worry (4)

Answer 11

1. Worries are a cognitive phenomenon experienced as aversive, people worry about future events and potential catastrophes, and worries are very hard to control.
2. Worries are more frequently triggered and generally occur in the form of thoughts, whereas obsessions often occur as images and impulses
3. Although both are experienced as uncontrollable, worries are not as strongly resisted as obsessions
4. Worries are typically related to realistic experiences of everyday life, whereas contents of obsessions frequently include topics such as contamination, religion, sex or aggression.

Question 12

ego-dystonic

Answer 12

(obsession) Focus on fears and concerns that are unrealistic, even irrational or imaginary

Question 13

Ego-syntonic

Answer 13

(worry) focus on every day negative outcomes involving finances, work, family, health and the like (worry belongs to person)

Question 14

Rebound effect

Answer 14

poging om te stoppen met denken aan bepaalde gedachten, het is een soort gemotiveerd vergeten, je probeert ongewenste gedachten kwijt te raken.
–> gedaan bij depressies, GAD, PTSD en OCD.

Wegners onderzoek witte beren:
pogingen om bepaalde gedachten of mentale beelden te onderdrukken leiden juist tot het tegenovergestelde effect, namelijk dat de gedachten juist vaker komen.
onderzoekers vroegen deelnemers om niet aan witte beren te denken voor een bepaalde tijd. wat gebeurde was dat deze deelnemers juist een toename aan het denken aan witte beren ervaarden.
Dit effect werd verklaard door wegens theorie van het bewuste controle proces. volgens zijn theorie vereist het onderdrukken van een gedachte actieve cognitieve middelen. wanneer we proberen een gedachte te onderdrukken, blijft deze echter actief in ons bewustzijn en kan het gemakkelijk terugkeren. de inspanning om de gedachte te onderdrukken vergroot de toegankelijkheid ervan, waardoor het vaker in ons bewustzijn komt.

Question 15

Catastrophic misinterpretation contribute to OCD

Answer 15

cognitieve gedragstheorie suggereert dat mensen met OCD een opgeblazen perceptie van verantwoordelijkheid hebben voor schade aan zichzelf of anderen.

• deze personen voelen zich vaak verantwoordelijk voor mogelijke negatieve gevolgen van hun obsessies, die leiden tot duidelijk leed en neutraliserend (compulsief) gedrag.