OCD

Question 1

whats trichotillomania?

Answer 1

compulsive hair pulling

Question 2

what is a hoarding disorder?

Answer 2

the compulsive gathering of possessions and the inability to part with anything regardless of its valued

Question 3

what is excoriation disorder?

Answer 3

compulsive skin picking

Question 4

How much of the popultion has OCD?

Answer 4

2%

Question 5

what are obsessions?

Answer 5

recurrent, persistent and unwelcome thoughts, impulses or images that are intrusive and cause distress

Question 6

what are compulsions?

Answer 6

repetitive behaviour performed to suppress or reduce the distress caused by obsessions

Question 7

what are some common obsessions?

Answer 7

contamination, loss of control, harm, superstition, unwanted sexual thoughts

Question 8

what are some common compulsions?

Answer 8

washing and cleaning, repetition, checking, mental compulsions such as counting, ordering, arranging

Question 9

what are the two elements of compulsions?

Answer 9

they’re repetitive and reduce anxiety

Question 10

what are the behavioural characteristics of OCD?

Answer 10

compulsions and avoidance

Question 11

what are the emotional characteristics of OCD?

Answer 11

anxiety, distress, depression, guilt, distgust

Question 12

What are the cognitive characteristics of OCD?

Answer 12

obsession, cognitive coping strategies, excessive anxiety?

Question 13

give examples of excessive anxiety

Answer 13

the sufferer is hyper-vigilant, tense, alert, worst scenarios imagined, recognise that obsessions and compulsions are not rational

Question 14

what is the genetic explanation for OCD?

Answer 14

genes are involved in a person’s vulnerability to OCD

Question 15

what was Lewis observation in the hereditary nature of OCD?

Answer 15

lewis observed that 37% of his patients with OCD also had parents with OCD and 21% had siblings with OCD, suggesting OCD runs in families

Question 16

what is the Diathesis-stress model?

Answer 16

certain genes leave people more likely to suffer mental disorders but environmental stress is necessary to trigger the genes

Question 17

what are candidate genes?

Answer 17

genes that create vulnerability to OCD and are often involved in the regulation of the serotonin system’s development

Question 18

what is the gene implicated in the effective transport of serotonin across synapses

Answer 18

5HT1-D beta

Question 19

why is OCD polygenic?

Answer 19

it is not caused by a single gene, instead, Taylor found that over 230 genes cause OCD and that many genes related to the action of dopamine and serotonin

Question 20

what is the word for OCD having serval genes that cause it that are also different in different people?

Answer 20

aetiologically heterogeneous

Question 21

what is co-morbidity?

Answer 21

when r more disorders are present at the same time

Question 22

what is the evidence for the genetic explanation of OCD

Answer 22

Nestadt et l found that when reviewing twin studies 68% of monozygotic twins had OCD whilst only 31% of dizygotic twins shared OCD thus suggesting a genetic influence

Question 23

what are the strengths of the genetic explanation for OCD?

Answer 23

antidepressants have been shown to reduce symptoms of OCD so serotonin is a contributing factor to OCD
Parkinsons had a biological basis and is associated with OCD suggesting there is a biological basis to OCD

Question 24

what are the weaknesses of the genetic explanation of OCD?

Answer 24

we do not know what genes cause OCD every time so it has a low predictive value
cromer et al found that in a sample of OCD sufferers experience trauma and that the more trauma the more serve
methodological issues with twin studies

Question 25

what is the neural explanation of OCD?

Answer 25

genes associated with OCD likely effect levels of neurotransmitters and structures in the brain

Question 26

what is the role of serotonin in OCD

Answer 26

low levers of serotonin can affect moods and mental processes which can cause OC in some cases

Question 27

what is the effect of impaired decision making systems?

Answer 27

some cases of OCD (hoarding disorders) are linked with impaired decision making associated with abnormal function of the lateral of the frontal lobes that are responsible for logical thinking and decision making

Question 28

what evidence is there for the neural explanation for OCD?

Answer 28

there is evidence the left parahippocampal gyrus associated with unpleasant emotions functions abnormal in OCD

Question 29

what are the strengths of the neural explanation for OCD?

Answer 29

removes the stigma of OCD due to the biological nature | antidepressants decrease symptoms of OCD and OCD is also associated with Parkinson's so suggesting biological basis

Question 30

what are the weaknesses of the neural explanation?

Answer 30

no one brin structure hs found to always play a role in OCD causation vs result no clear cause and effect co-morbidity means depression may being treatment instead of OCD

Question 31

what are SSRIs?

Answer 31

selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors

Question 32

what do SSRIs do?

Answer 32

stop the reuptake of serotonin, increasing the level of serotonin in the synapse prolonging the stimulation of the post-synaptic neuron

Question 33

how are drugs used with CBT to treat OCD?

Answer 33

the drugs reduce the emotional symptoms such as anxiety so the client can engage in CBT

Question 34

what are Tricyclics?

Answer 34

stop the reuptake of noradrenaline and serotonin but have more serve side effects than SSRIs

Question 35

what are SNRIs?

Answer 35

serotonin-noradrenaline reuptake inhibitors

Question 36

what are SNRIs and what do they do?

Answer 36

they stop the reuptake of S and N, reducing anxiety and can select what moods are affected with fewer side-effects

Question 37

what are monoamine oxidase inhibitors?

Answer 37

inhibitors that stop the enzymes breaking down noradrenaline or serotonin

Question 38

what are the risks of monoamine oxidase inhibitors?

Answer 38

very dangerous side effects when eating some foods

Question 39

what are the strengths of drugs used to treat OCD?

Answer 39

they reduce symptoms by 70% and improve peoples lives | non-distuptive and cheaper than BT

Question 40

what is the supporting evidence for drugs used to treat OCD?

Answer 40

Soomro et al reviewed placebo vs SSRI studies treating OCD and found that in all 17 studies SSRIs showed significantly better results

Question 41

what are the weaknesses of the drugs used to treat OCD?

Answer 41

side-effects several weeks to see improvements unreliable evidence s some psychologists believe the evidence to be biased as it is sponsored by drug companies may not be applicable for OCD following trauma as counselling may be more effective

Question 42

what are some side effect of SSRIs?

Answer 42

indigestion, blurred vision, reduced libido, weight gain, insomnia, nausea

Question 43

what drugs are used to treat OCD?

Answer 43

Tricyclics, SSRIs, SNRIs, monoamine oxidase inhibitors