chapter 5-biological approaches to obsessive compulsive disorder Flashcards Preview

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Flashcards in chapter 5-biological approaches to obsessive compulsive disorder Deck (21)
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1
Q

what does this explanation argue?

A
  • OCD is caused by neural abnormalities in the structure/function of the brain
  • partly caused by genes
  • assumed to be an illness that can be treated using medical methods
2
Q

what are the two key areas of the brain that are associated with neural abnormalities?

A

Basal Ganglia

Orbito Frontal Cortex

3
Q

what is a basal ganglia?

A

a group of brain structures at the base of the brain important in emotion and habitat type

4
Q

what is the orbitofrontal cortex?

A

the area of frontal lobes and it processes sensory information

5
Q

what did baxter argue about abnormalities in the loop between the two?

A

-it may mean that primitive behaviours that are designed to protect us get over activated despite sensory information telling the brain theres no longer a threat

6
Q

what evidence is there for the OCD and damage to the basal ganglia?

A

Polak et al 2012

7
Q

what did polak do?

A

reported a case of a man who had suffered damage to his basal ganglia after a heart attack

  • during the attack his brain was starved of oxygen which resulted in him showing compulsive whistling behaviour
  • this was reduced with treatment with a drug that increased the neurotransmitter serotonin
8
Q

what was the conclusion of polaks research?

A

symptoms of OCD can be reduced by altering the activity in the circuit between the orbito frontal cortex and the basal ganglia through surgery or brain stimulation

9
Q

what is a neurotransmitter?

A

chemicals in the brain that allow messages to be sent between brain sells across synapses

10
Q

what does it mean when OCD is likely to be polygenic?

A

it will be linked to many genes not just one

-as many as 230 could be involved in OCD

11
Q

what would we expect from OCD in twins?

A

-identical twins share 100% of their genes so if OCD has an genetic component then we would expect that in identical twins both are likely to suffer

12
Q

what evidence is there for twins and OCD?

A

Nestadt 2000

  • he found that the concordance rate for identical twins was 68% and for non identical it was 31%
  • as MZ twins have a higher concordance rate old must have a genetic explanation
13
Q

what evidence is there for gene mapping?

A

National institute of Mental Health found OCD was linked to mutation in the human serotonin transporter gene (sort gene)
-this gene is important in explaining how well serotonin is transported across synapses

14
Q

what does the most common biological treatment for OCD involve the use of?

A

SSRIS ( specific serotonin re uptake inhibitors )

15
Q

whats the key example of an SSRI?
Whats the typical treatment lengths?
typical dose?
who can prescribe it?

A

FLUOXETINE= PROSZAC
3-4 months
20mg a day
by a GP of psychiatrist

16
Q

what are the effects on the brain and the side effects of using fluoxetine?

A

effect on brain-acts to inhibit re uptake of serotonin back into the pre synapse meaning serotonin stays in the synaptic gap for longer and serotonin is increased
side effects- irritability,headaches,reduced sex drive

17
Q

who looked into the effectiveness of SSRIS ?

A

soomro et al

  • reviewed 17 studies that compared SSRIS to a placebo in the treatment of OCD
  • 70% showed significant reduction in OCD symptoms who were using SSRIS
18
Q

what drug is used as well as SSRIS to lower the activity of dopamine?

A

Olanzapine

19
Q

who looked into combining SSRIS?

A

Koren et al 2000-aimed to asses whether adding olanzapine to the treatment with the SSRI fluoxetine would be more effective at reducing OCD symptoms

20
Q

what was Koren et als method?

A

10 participants who hadn’t responded to fluxontine took part and symptoms of OCD were assessed using Yale-Brown Obsessive Compulsive Scale
-mean symptom score was 29

21
Q

results of Koren et als method?

A

overall a reduction in OCD symptom severity with the mean YBOCS score being 24
-however patients put on weight so this shouldn’t be sued