OCD- psychopathology

Question 1

OCD definition:

A disorder where a person has recurrent and unwanted ________ and a need to perform ________ and rigid actions

Answer 1

• thoughts
• repetitive

Question 2

2 behavioural characteristics of OCD

Answer 2

• COMPULSIONS
  they are repetitive and are done to reduce anxiety that’s caused by the obsessions
• AVOIDANCE
  attempt to reduce anxiety by keeping away from situations that trigger it, can interfere with people’s everyday lives

Question 3

3 emotional characteristics of OCD

Answer 3

• ANXIETY AND DISTRESS
  unpleasant emotional experience due to extreme anxiety, obsessive thoughts are unpleasant and frightening, and the anxiety can be overwhelming.
• DEPRESSION
  anxiety companied with low mood, lack of enjoyment in activities
• GUILT AND DISGUST
  irrational guilt, and can feel disgust either against something external or against the self

Question 4

3 cognitive characteristics of OCD

Answer 4

• OBSESSIVE THOUGHTS
  occur over and over again
• COGNITIVE STRATEGIES TO DEAL W OBSESSIONS
  helps manage anxiety, can distract from everyday tasks

-INSIGHT INTO EXCESSIVE ANXIETY
sufferers are aware their obsessions aren’t rational, they experience catastrophic thoughts about the worst case scenarios if their anxieties are justified. they’re hyper vigilant so maintain constant alertness + keep attention focused on potential hazards

Question 5

Describe the cycle of OCD starting with obsessive thoughts

Answer 5

OBSESSIVE THOUGHTS
——->
ANXIETY
——–>
COMPULSIVE BEHAVIOUR
———>
TEMPORARY RELIEF

then cycle starts again

Question 6

Genetic explanation of OCD -
what did Lewis find?

Answer 6

• genes involved in vulnerability to OCD
• lewis found: 37% of OCD patients had parents with OCD, 21% had siblings with OCD

suggests OCD runs in families

genetic vulnerability is passed on through families

Question 7

Genetic explanation of OCD-
explain…

• diathesis stress model
  -candidate genes
  -polygenic
• aetiologically heterogenous

Answer 7

diathesis stress model= genes leave individual’s with vulnerability to a disorder, but it’s not certain and requires an environmental stressor to trigger the onset.

Candidate genes= genes which create a vulnerability to OCD

Polygenic= OCD is caused by many different candidate genes, Taylor found that there are up to 230 different genes involved in OCD

aetiologically heterogenous= origin of OCD has different causes for each individual sufferer.

Question 8

AO3- genetic explanation of OCD

Answer 8

• TWIN STUDIES ARE FLAWED
  shared environmental experience
• CANDIDATE GENES
  provide little predictive value
• LOTS OF SUPPORTING EVIDENCE
  twin studies: 68% MZ shared OCD, 31% DZ shared OCD
• ENVIRONMENTAL RISK FACTORS
  ocd not entirely genetics an be triggered by environment eg trauma
• LEARNED BEHAVIOUR
  findings from family studies can be explained by observation and imitation

Question 9

Neural explanation- serotonin

Answer 9

• serotonin helps regulate mood
• if someone has low levels then normal transmission of mood relevant info doesn’t take place
• so mood and other mental processes are affected

Question 10

Neural explanation- decision making systems

Answer 10

• OCD can be associated with impaired decision making
• can be associated with abnormal functioning of the LATERAL FRONTAL LOBES, which are responsible for thinking and making decisions

—> slide left parahippocampus associated with processing unpleasant emotions functions abnormally in OCD

Question 11

AO3- neural explanations

Answer 11

• UNCLEAR ON NEURAL MECHANISMS
  no system has been found that always plays a role in OCD
  so can’t claim to fully understand
• SHOULDNT ASSUME NEURAL MECHANISMS = OCD
  biological abnormalities a result of OCD, not a cause
• EVIDENCE
  some anti-depressants work purely on serotonin which increase the levels, just coz this decreases OCD symptoms doesn’t mean this was the cause in the first place

Question 12

Biological approach to treating depression-

SSRIs

Answer 12

• SELECTIVE SEROTONIN REUPTAKE INHIBITOR
• they block the reuptake of serotonin which allows serotonin to remain active within the synapse longer
• by preventing the breakdown and re-absorption of serotonin, SSRIs increase its levels in the synapse and so continue to stimulate the post-synaptic neurone
• takes 3 to 4 months of daily use for SSRIs to have an impact on symptoms
• sufferers will relapse to full disorder if they stop taking the drug, can combine drug therapy with CBT to treat OCD—-> drugs reduce patients anxiety/depression which allows them to engage more effectively with CBT.

Question 13

AO3 drug therapy to treat OCD

Answer 13

• EFFECTIVE
  —-> SSRIs compared with placebos, all 17 studies showed significantly better results for SSRIs
• clear ev that they reduce the symptoms and provide an improved quality of life for sufferers
• COST EFFECTIVE AND NON DISRUPTIVE
  —-> cheap compared to psychological treatments, good value for NHS, non-disruptive as have to swallow a pill
• SIDE EFFECTS
  —> indigestion, blurred vision, loss of sex drive
• UNRELIABLE EVIDENCE
  ——> ev supporting drug treatments may be biased, this research is often sponsored by drug companies
• SOME OCD CASES FOLLOW TRAUMA
  —–> OCD can have a range of other causes such as being a response to a trauma , drugs don’t address this