OCD

Question 1

presentation of OCD

Answer 1

a disorder charcterised by the presence of obsessions or compulsions for at least 2 succesive weeks - symptoms can cause functional impairment or distress

Question 2

definition of obsessions

Answer 2

recurrent, intrusive, unpleasant, involuntary, resisted thought from within th patient’s own mind. Patients generally retain insight that their thoughts are irrational. Often ego dystonic.

Question 3

Compulsions definition

Answer 3

repetitive mental operations or physical acts that patients feel compelled to perfrome in response to obsessions or irrationally defned rules and to reduce anxiety though the belief that they will prevnt a dreaded event from occuring, even though they are irrtional or excessive.

Question 4

common obsessions and compulsions

Answer 4

1. fear of contamination - excessive washing and cleaning, avoidance of contaminated object
2. pathological doubt - excessive checking of possible omission
3. reprehensive violent, blasphemous or sexual thoughs, images or impulses without associated compulsions - act of redemption or seeking reassurance
4. need for symmettry/ precsions - repeatedly arranging objects to obtain perfect symmetry

Question 5

pathophysiology of OCD

Answer 5

• dysfunction of FHT neurotransmission
• damage to caudate nucleus in basal ganglia (sydenham chorea)
• genetic - shares genetic risk w tourretes
• psychosocial stressors

Question 6

mild to moderate OCD management

Answer 6

• self help

- individual or group CBT w exposure response prevention

Question 7

moderate to severe OCD management

Answer 7

individual CBT w ERP
first line meds - SSRIs
second line - another SSRI or clomipramine