OCD

Question 1

OCD definition

Answer 1

persistent and intrusive thoughts of obsessions, compulsions or both

Question 2

what is OCD

Answer 2

form of anxiety disorder
obsessions = ideas/visions that arent based on real life
compulsions = intense urges to perform tasks

Question 3

3 behavioural characteristics

Answer 3

1. social issues (inability to have meaningful conversations)
2. repetition
3. avoidance

Question 4

3 emotional characteristics

Answer 4

1. extreme anxiety
2. distress
3. low mood

Question 5

3 cognitive characteristics

Answer 5

1. recurrent and persistent thoughts
2. recognition of issues
3. attentional bias

Question 6

3 explanations of OCD

Answer 6

1. neural - low levels of serotonin
2. neural - dysfunctional frontal lobe
3. genetic

Question 7

low levels of serotonin explanation

Answer 7

• serotonin is linked to mood
• low = low mood
• reuptake happens too fast into pre synaptic neutron rather than post synaptic neutron

Question 8

dysfunctional frontal lobe explanation

Answer 8

• in the limbic system there is a basal ganglia (responsible for emotions)
• frontal lobe responds to situations by sending messages to limbic system
• emotion is triggered and sent back to frontal lobe to cause an action
• OCD can never get rid of the first emotion
• breakdown in the limbic system

Question 9

genetic explanation

Answer 9

• if it runs in the family, more likely to develop it
• identical twins 53-87% chance the other will get it
• no specific gene but a candidate gene e.g. SERT
• many genes are related to OCD = polygenic

Question 10

3 treatments of OCD

Answer 10

1. selective serotonin retake inhibitor (SSRI)
2. tricyclics
3. anti anxiety drugs

Question 11

SSRI

Answer 11

just works on serotonin (increases levels)
stops reuptake happening
form of anti depressant drug
drugs blocks reuptake, so serotonin goes to post synaptic neuron

Question 12

2 advantages of SSRI

Answer 12

effective - symptoms decline for 70% of patients

cost effective - cheaper to take pills than therapy

Question 13

2 disadvantages of SSRI

Answer 13

high relapse rates

side effects

Question 14

tricyclics

Answer 14

anti depressant drugs, same as SSRI
target more than one neurotransmitter
more likely to work better, but more severe side effects
only used if SSRI don’t work

Question 15

anti anxiety drugs

Answer 15

if antidepressants don't work 
enhance action of neurotransmitter (calms body)
reciprocal inhibition (calm not anxious)