OCD

Question 1

OCD behavioural characteristics

Answer 1

Repetitive compulsions

Compulsions reduce anxiety

Question 2

OCD emotional characteristics

Answer 2

Distress

OCD and depression

Question 3

OCD cognitive characteristics

Answer 3

Obsessive thoughts

Insight into excessive anxiety

Question 4

OCD genetic explanation

Answer 4

Been proposed there’s a genetic explanation to OCD that predisposes some individuals. Development of OCD is at least partly due to genes

Question 5

Candidate genes AO1

Answer 5

Genes that are implicated in development of OCD

SERT gene (regulates serotonin)
COMT gene (regulates dopamine production)

Question 6

What is serotonin

Answer 6

Neurotransmitter that facilitates message transfer across synapses

Question 7

Polygenic AO1

Answer 7

OCD development is not determined by a single gene, but a few.

Taylor (2013) found evidence for up to 230 genes involved in OCD.

Question 8

OCD diathesis stress model

Answer 8

Can’t say one single gene is responsible for a complex disorder like OCD. Diathesis stress model provides better explanation. Not everyone in a given family gets OCD so there must be additional factors.

Suggests that people gain a vulnerability towards OCD genes but and environmental stressor is also required to trigger the onset of OCD

Question 9

Lewis’ OCD study

Answer 9

(1936) studied patients with OCD. Found 37% patients had patterns with OCD and 21% had siblings with OCD

Suggests that OCD does run in families and there is a genetic component

Question 10

Bellodi et al OCD study

Answer 10

(2007) claim genetic factors do play a role in the disorder. Using evidence from twin and family studies- showed close relatives are more likely to develop OCD than distant relatives

Question 11

OCD genetic explanation AO3 (practical applications)

Answer 11

P- real world applications

E- mapping of genes has led to the hope of reducing disorders such as OCD. Eg. if a parent is a carrier of the SERT gene, the mothers eggs can be screened

T- gives the parents the choice of whether to continue with the fertilisation if the gene is present

Question 12

OCD genetic explanation AO3 (studies)

Answer 12

P- when using twin studies, we can’t rule out the role of the environment

E- for example, most identical twins likely share the same environment and upbringing. This means that it may infact be the environment that is influencing OCD rather than genetics

T- therefore suggesting g nurture rather than nature for the onset of OCD

Question 13

OCD genetic explanation AO3 (cause and effect)

Answer 13

P- cause and effect cannot be established

E- this is because we are unsure whether OCD causes differences in neurotransmitter levels or vice versa

T- therefore, causality can’t be established

Question 14

Neural explanations AO1

Answer 14

The cure that physical and psychological characteristics are determined by behaviour of the nervous system, in particular the brain

There’s evidence from PET scans that people with OCD have abnormalities in their brain

Some cases of OCD may be explained by a reduction in the functioning of serotonin in the brain

Question 15

Decision making systems AO1

Answer 15

Some cases of OCD, in particular hoarding disorders, seem to be associated with impaired decision making. This may be due to abnormal functioning of the lateral parts of the frontal lobes of the brain

Frontal lobes are responsible for logical thinking and decision making

Question 16

OCD neural explanation AO3 (PET)

Answer 16

P- research for neural explanations come from brain scanning techniques such as PET scans

E- these provide objective data which is therefore high in validity. However, no system has been found in the brain that always plays a role in OCD

T- this means that we cannot claim to understand the neural mechanisms involved in OCD yet

Question 17

OCD genetic explanation AO3 (functioning normally)

Answer 17

P- there’s evidence to suggest serotonin transmitters aren’t functioning normally in patients with OCD

E- however this is not the same as saying the abnormal functioning causes the OCD

T- these biological abnormalities could be the result of having OCD- rather than the cause

Question 18

OCD treatments AO1

Answer 18

Drug therapy aims to increase or decrease level of neurotransmitters in the brain to increase or decrease their activity

SSRI’s: Prozac

Question 19

What does SSRI stand for

Answer 19

Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor

Question 20

How do SSRIs work?

Answer 20

Serotonin released from pre synaptic neuron into synapse, then serotonin chemically converts signals from pre to post synaptic neuron. Any surplus serotonin is reabsorbed by the presynaptic neuron where it’s broken down and re used

SSRIS prevent reabsorption and breakdown of serotonin in the presynaptic neuron. This means serotonin levels in the synapse are increased which stimulates the presynaptic neuron

Question 21

OCD drug therapy AO3 (cost effective)

Answer 21

P- drugs are cost effective and non disruptive

E- drugs are economical compared to psychological treatments like CBT. Using drugs to treat OCD is therefore beneficial to the public health system. Drugs are also non disruptive, patients can take them as part of their everyday life, whereas sessions such as CBT can be disruptive to work schedules

T- this means that drug therapies are likely to be more successful for patients who lack motivation to complete intense psychological treatments

Question 22

OCD drug therapies AO3 (effective)

Answer 22

P- Soomro et al (2009) found drug therapies to be effective

E- they reviewed studies comparing SSRIs to placebos in the treatment of OCD and concluded that in all 17 studies showed significant better results for SSRI treatments. Typically symptoms reduced by 70% when taking SSRIs

T- this supports the use of biological treatments, particularly SSRIs, for OCD

Question 23

OCD drug therapy AO3 (long term)

Answer 23

P- drugs are not a long term fix, they don’t cure the ‘problem’ rather just mask the symptoms

E- Maina 2001 found when patients stopped taking their medication, symptoms returned within a few weeks. Whereas, psychological treatments such as CBT may actually ‘cure’ the patient of their OCD

T- therefore, drug therapy may not be the most effective long term solution

Question 24

OCD drug therapy AO3 (side effects)

Answer 24

P- drugs can have side effects

E- some patients will suffer effects such as indigestion, blurred vision and loss of sex drive. For those taking Clomipramine, side effects are more serious and far more common such as tremors and weight gain. More than one in a hundred becomes aggressive.

T- these factors may reduce the effectiveness because people stop taking the medication