Psychopathology - OCD

Question 1

What is Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD)?

Answer 1

• Obsession: Persistent; feels intrusive, causes anxiety
• Compulsion: Repetitive behaviour performed to reduce anxiety

Question 2

What are the characteristics of OCD?

Answer 2

• Behavioural: Actions such as avoidamce of situations that trigger anxiety
• Emotional: Negative emotions, guilt+disgust
• Cognitive: Obsessive thoughts, cognitive coping strategies, Anxiety

Question 3

What is the cycle of OCD?

Answer 3

Obsessive thoughts > Anxiety > Compulsive behaviour > Temporary relief > Obsessive thoughts

Question 4

What are the biological explanations for OCD?

Answer 4

• Genetics
• Neural

Question 5

What is the genetic explanation for OCD?

Answer 5

• Suggests that there is at least partially a genetic component to OCD which predisposes some ppl to OCD, might explain why ppl often have family members with OCD
• Candidate genes such as the SERT (seratonin) and COMT (dopamine) genes implicate the development of OCD
• Diathesis-Stress Model suggests pp gain a Vulnerability to OCD through genes, enviromental stressor also required
• Aetiologically heterogeneous: different genetic variation or genes cause the disorder in different people

Question 6

What is a/are POSITIVE evaluation(s) for the genetic explanation?

Answer 6

• Some evidence to suggest that there is a genetic component to OCD
• Candidate genes have been implicated in the development of OCD through research
• Billet et al. (1998) and Bellodi et al. (2001): Used evidence from twin studies and family studies; suggested that close relatives more likely to have OCD than distant relatives
• Lewis (1936) and Pauls et al. (2005): 37% patients have parents w/ OCD, 21% patients have siblings w/ OCD

Question 7

What is a/are NEGATIVE evaluation(s) for the genetic explanation?

Answer 7

• Family studies can be due to enviromental influences (SLT), close relatives may have imitated the behaviour of OCD
• Polygenic: too many genes; psychologists still havent pinned down all the involved genes, each genetic variation only increases the risk of OCD by a fraction

Question 8

What is the neural explanation for OCD?

Answer 8

• Suggests that genes associated with OCD are likely to affect the level of key neurotransmitters as well as the structures of the brain
• Basal ganglia implicated (psychomotor functions), links with striatium function (reward system)
• Orbitofrontal Cortex (OFC) and Thalamus believed to be involved (behaviour and decisions)
• Serotonin: transmission of mood-relevant information to take place, low serotonin = depression + mood instability

Question 9

What is a/are POSITIVE evaluation(s) for the genetic explanation?

Answer 9

• Allows medication to be developed for neurotransmitters
• Advances in technology (brain scans) shows OCD patients seem to have excessive OFC activity
• Cleaning + checking behaviour “Hard-wired” in the Thalamus

Question 10

What is a/are NEGATIVE evaluation(s) for the genetic explanation?

Answer 10

• Drugs aren’t completely effective: SSRIs decrease OCD symptoms, serotonin isn’t of OCD, chemical imbalance from drugs addressed in hours: inefficient
• Compulsion might be explained by basal ganglia abnormalities but not necessarily the obsessive thoughts
• Inconsistencies in research, no system has been found that always plays a role in OCD
• Neural changes could be a result of the condition, not necessarily the cause

Question 11

What are Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors (SSRIs)?

Answer 11

• A drug that increases certain neurotransmitters in the brain by preventing the re-absorption of serotonin; effectively increases the level of serotonin in the synapse, continues to stimulate the post-synaptic neurons
• Serotonin goes from stomach to brain to stabilise mood, SSRIs keep serotonin in the brain to stabilise mood for longer

Question 12

How are SSRIs usually used?

Answer 12

• Used alongside CBT to reduce sufferers emotional symptoms for more effective engagement in CBT

Question 13

What is an alternative for SSRIs?

Answer 13

SNRIs: “Second line of defence” if SSRIs aren’t effective

Question 14

What is a/are POSITIVE evaluation(s) for the Biological Treatments?

Answer 14

• Drug therapy is effective against OCD symptoms: Soomro et al. (2009) SSRIs are effective in reducing the severity of OCD symptoms
• Drugs are cost-effective and non-disruptive: cheap compared to psychological treatments, non-disruptive to patients lives

Question 15

What is a/are NEGATIVE evaluation(s) for the Biological Treatments?

Answer 15

• Drugs can have side effects: significant minority receive no benefit and/or may suffer side effects, e.g. weight gain, sexual dysfunction, loss of memory, coming off drugs is slow and has a risk of relapse
• Unreliable evidence for drug treatments: drug companies might suppress bad results to make drugs look good
• Some cases of OCD follow traumas: there are cases that propose OCD cases with no family history of OCD but a relevant life event should be treated differently as drugs may not be appropriate