Problem 6: OCD Flashcards
what are obsessions? What types are there?
-persistent thoughts that are undesirable and uncontrollable
-contamination, responsibility of causing harm, unacceptable thoughts with mental rituals (taboo, violence), incompleteness
what is symptom accommodation
when a friend participates/aids in rituals
what is a compulsion
urges to engage in behaviour to reduce the stress caused by the obsessions (ritualistic)
what is ego dystonia
when the obsession is not consistent with the self image
what is Mowrer’s two factor theory (conditioning model)
-OCD develops through classical conditioning and maintained through operant conditioning (reinforcement)
-it’s based on conditioning and learning theory
-Limitations: patients don’t recall conditioining experience; does not explain the development of sexual, religious, and violent obsessions; does not explain how obsessions can change over time
what is the general cognitive deficit model (Rachman)
-there are dysfunctions and deficits in cognitive processing
-Patients with OCD have memory problems (less confidence)
-cognitive inhibition: OCD individuals are less able to forget thoughts about stressful mental stimuli
-cognitive bias: processing of threat related stimuli accurately
-little support
what is beck’s cognitive specificity model?
-each type of psychopathology is linked with distinct pattern of dysfunctional cognitions
-OCD comes from maladaptive interpretations (linked to harm)
-if your intrusive thoughts are about you posing a threat and you feel like you are responsible –> development of o’s and c’s
-supported! by self-report, lab and longitudinal studies
what is Salkovskis cognitive approach?
-it’s normal to experience unwanted thoughts but they are less frequent and distracting for nonclinical individuals
-TAF (though-action fusion): unwanted thoughts will inevitably fuse into actions –> distress
Biological factors for OCD
-serotonin hypothesis: abnormality in serotonin systems causes the obsessions and compulsions (hypersensitivity of postsynaptic neurons) –> SSRIs are more effective than placebo
-structural: abnormalities in specific brain areas: overactivity in the direct pathway (cerebral cortex –> striatum –> thalamus) would give rise to OCD symptoms
-genetics (first degree relatives are more likely, twin studies support heritability)
why does checking behaviour not help to reduce anxiety?
-checking increases memory uncertainty (which is domain specific)
-study:
–checking reduces memory detail and vividness
–because semantic processing it prioritised over perceptual processing
–it reduces the feeling of doing your best and acting responsibly resulting in more uncertainty and anxiety about OCD
how does disgust play a role in OCD?
-after extinction high contamination concern individuals showed greater disgust to the CS+ which supports the hypothesis that extinction is impaired if you have a high disgust sensitivity
-extinction was less effective for HCC
-aetiology: difficulty inhibiting conditioned disgust responses
how does exposure therapy work?
EXRP (exposure and ritual prevention) helps to stop compulsions, disconfirming beliefs and fear, it worked better than medication
-comorbid with depression: treating OCD can benefit depression but not vice versa
-OCD’ers that articulate their feared consequences and have good insight have better outcomes
what are the components of exposure therapy
-in vivo
-response prevention
-imaginary exposure
-processing exposure experiences ( focuses on bodily sensations)
