ALEVEL PSYCH > 4.1.4 OCD > Flashcards

4.1.4 OCD Flashcards

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1
Q

what is obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD)?

A
  • ocd is an anxiety disorder
  • it is characterised by persistent, intrusive thoughts & repetitive behaviours
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2
Q

what are obsessions in OCD?

A

• obsessions are intrusive, persistent thoughts

examples include:
• “germs are everywhere; they could harm me and my family”
• “the outside world is a terrifying and dangerous place so i must do what i can to protect myself and my family”

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3
Q

what are compulsions in ocd?

A

• compulsions are repetitive behaviours

examples include:
• “i must wash my hands thoroughly every time i touch any sort of surface”
• “i must check that i’ve locked the door at least seven times before i go to bed”

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4
Q

how do obsessions and compulsions differ in ocd?

A

• obsessions are intrusive, persistent thoughts
• whereas compulsions are repetitive behaviours performed in response to these thoughts

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5
Q

what are the behavioural characteristics of ocd?

A

• compulsions that are repetitive and time-consuming
• behaviours are adhered to obsessively by the person with ocd

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6
Q

what are examples of compulsive behaviours in ocd?

A

• hand-washing (a highly prevalent ocd behaviour)
• continual organising or re-arranging of food cupboards or bookshelves
• switching a light on and off a set number of times

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7
Q

why are compulsions performed in ocd?

A

• compulsions are performed to reduce anxiety

for example:
• repetitive hand-washing may reassure the person they will not contract a disease
• repeatedly checking the door may reassure the person that they and their family are safe

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8
Q

what is avoidance in ocd?

A

• avoidance is a key characteristic of ocd
• individuals try to avoid situations that may trigger obsessive thoughts and compulsive behaviours

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9
Q

what are examples of avoidance in ocd?

A

• avoiding social engagements due to fear of contracting a germ-borne disease
• becoming cut off from friends, family and contact with the outside world

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10
Q

what are the emotional characteristics of ocd?

A

• extreme levels of anxiety and fear
• feelings of being overwhelmed
• guilt directed towards themselves or due to neglecting friends, family or work
• disgust directed towards themselves or the outside world

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11
Q

how is depression linked to ocd?

A

• people with ocd may experience depression
• this is due to feeling “trapped” by their obsessions and compulsions
• having more than one mental illness at a time is known as comorbidity

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12
Q

what are the cognitive characteristics of ocd?

A

• obsessive thoughts (affect around 90% of people with ocd)
• the use of coping mechanisms to deal with these thoughts

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13
Q

what coping mechanisms are used in ocd?

A

• identifying the obsessive thought as it occurs

e.g. “there’s that feeling of panic about germs again”
• using a grounding object such as a pebble or wristband to help stop obsessive thoughts

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14
Q

are people with ocd aware their fears are irrational?

A

• yes many people are
• this awareness may help control fear
• however, fear can still spiral regardless of logic

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15
Q

what is catastrophising in ocd?

A

• catastrophising involves assuming the worst possible outcome
• example:
• “i can’t find anywhere to wash my hands properly; this is terrible; i might die”

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16
Q

what exam advice is given for questions on ocd characteristics?

A

• questions often focus on emotional, behavioural or cognitive characteristics
• you must know the difference between these
• it is important to distinguish between obsessions and compulsions
• using terms like “whereas” can help show this distinction

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17
Q

what does a genetic explanation of ocd assume?

A

• a genetic explanation of ocd assumes that mental illnesses are heritable
• mental illnesses are generationally transmitted

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18
Q

which relatives have a higher risk of developing ocd?

A

• the risk of developing ocd is higher for first-degree relatives
• first-degree relatives include siblings or children

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19
Q

how does the risk of inheriting ocd vary between families?

A

• the risk of inheriting ocd is higher in some families than in others
• research so far cannot explain why this is so

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20
Q

what are candidate genes in relation to ocd?

A

• researchers have identified candidate genes
• candidate genes code for vulnerability to ocd

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21
Q

is ocd caused by one single gene?

A

• ocd is polygenic
• it is not caused by one single gene
• it is caused by a combination of genetic variations

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22
Q

what do polygenic genetic variations cause in relation to ocd?

A

• a combination of genetic variations cause significantly increased vulnerability

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23
Q

why does the same genetic profile not always lead to ocd?

A

• a specific gene variation or group of genes may result in ocd in one person
• but not for everyone with that genetic profile

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24
Q

which types of genes are relevant to ocd?

A

• ocd-relevant genes include those involved in serotonergic pathways
• ocd-relevant genes include those involved in dopaminergic pathways

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25
why is dopamine relevant to ocd?
• dopamine is a neurotransmitter linked to mood, emotion and motivation
26
which types of genes are relevant to ocd?
• ocd-relevant genes include those involved in serotonergic pathways • ocd-relevant genes include those involved in dopaminergic pathways
27
why is serotonin relevant to ocd?
• serotonin is a neurotransmitter linked to mood, emotion and motivation
28
which gene variation has research linked to ocd?
• research suggests a variation of the comt gene is linked to ocd
29
what is the role of the comt gene?
• comt plays an important role in de-activating dopamine • the comt gene helps to balance dopamine levels
30
why is dopamine relevant to ocd?
• irregular dopamine levels are implicated in ocd
31
how may comt gene variation contribute to ocd?
• comt gene variation may contribute to ocd • it may help to control compulsive behaviours
32
which other gene has been linked with ocd?
• the sert gene has also been linked with ocd
33
how does the sert gene affect the brain?
• it affects the transport of serotonin
34
how are serotonin levels linked to ocd?
• lower levels of serotonin activity are implicated in ocd
35
what is the role of serotonin in relation to ocd?
• serotonin plays a role in balancing mood • this may help to regulate obsessive thoughts
36
strength of genetic explanation of ocd: research support
• there is some strong research support for a genetic explanation of ocd • nestadt et al. (2010) found that 68% of monozygotic (mz; identical) twins both had ocd compared to 31% of dizygotic (dz; non-identical) twins • this increases the validity of the theory, suggesting that ocd can be partly explained by genetics
37
strength of genetic explanation of ocd: twin studies
• twin studies are a useful way to investigate the heritability of ocd • each twin acts as the control for the other twin, which means that individual differences are accounted for to some extent • twin studies tend to use large samples, resulting in robust quantitative data with good reliability
38
weakness of genetic explanation of ocd: biological reductionism
• ignoring the role that the environment plays in the development of a mental illness makes a genetic explanation prone to biological reductionism • twins are reared in the same environment, so they are likely to respond to upbringing and family life similarly • if the environment also contributes to ocd, then a genetic explanation lacks fully explanatory power
39
weakness of genetic explanation of ocd: limited understanding of genetic mechanisms
• pato et al. (2001) noted that although there seems to be a genetic explanation for ocd, there is insufficient understanding of the actual genetic mechanisms surrounding ocd • this means a genetic explanation alone may lack validity
40
what is the neural explanation of ocd?
• a neural explanation of ocd assumes that neurotransmitters play a role in the development of the disorder
41
which neurotransmitters are key in the neural explanation of ocd?
• the two key neurotransmitters are serotonin and dopamine
42
what is the role of serotonin in ocd?
• serotonin plays a role in regulating mood
43
what happens if serotonin levels are low or disrupted?
• low or disrupted serotonin levels have been implicated in mood disorders such as depression
44
how can low serotonin affect cognition?
• low mood may be accompanied by cognitive disturbances such as faulty information processing
45
where is faulty information processing located in the brain?
• it can be located to the frontal cortex
46
what is the frontal cortex linked to?
• the frontal cortex is linked to executive functioning
47
how does low serotonin in the frontal cortex affect thoughts and behaviours?
• irregular/low serotonin levels can make it difficult to apply logic, reason, and rationality to thoughts and behaviours
48
how does low serotonin in the frontal cortex relate to obsessions?
• obsessive thoughts are more likely if serotonin levels in the frontal cortex are irregular/low
49
what is the role of dopamine in ocd?
• dopamine activity in the dorsomedial striatum (dsm) has been linked to compulsive behaviours
50
what do neural circuits connecting the cerebral cortex to the dsm control?
• they are thought to control movement and reward-seeking behaviours
51
what happens if dopamine levels in the dsm are high?
• high dopamine in the dsm increases compulsive reward-seeking
52
how does dopamine explain compulsive behaviours in ocd?
compulsive behaviours are performed to decrease obsessive thoughts by reducing anxiety • dopamine reinforces these compulsive behaviours
53
strength of neural explanation of ocd: ssris
• antidepressants such as ssris are used to regulate serotonin levels • they have been effective in reducing ocd symptoms • this supports the idea that irregular serotonin levels are linked to the development of ocd • increases the validity of the neural explanation
54
strength of neural explanation of ocd: research methods
• research uses objective, clinical methods such as fmri scanning • fmris provide reliable data on brain activity • this increases confidence in the findings and the reliability of the theory
55
weakness of neural explanation of ocd: ssris
• not all ocd sufferers respond positively to ssris • if ssris cannot treat all individuals with ocd, then serotonin irregularities may not be the sole cause • reduces the external validity of the neural explanation
56
weakness of neural explanation of ocd: fmri limitations
• fmris measure brain activity but cannot track ‘live’ neurotransmission • measured activity may be influenced by other factors (e.g., nervousness in the scanner) • only shows neurological correlates, not definitive proof that serotonin and dopamine irregularities cause ocd
57
what does the biological approach say about ocd?
• ocd is caused by low levels of serotonin in the brain
58
what is serotonin and why is it important?
• serotonin is a neurotransmitter associated with mood • low or irregular serotonin may cause mood imbalances like feeling down, anxious, or manic
59
how can low serotonin lead to obsessive thoughts?
• mood imbalance can interfere with rational thinking • this may cause obsessive thoughts, a key characteristic of ocd
60
what are ssris?
• selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (ssris) • antidepressant drugs used to treat low serotonin
61
how do ssris work?
• they prevent serotonin from being reabsorbed into the presynaptic neuron • this increases serotonin available in the brain
62
why are ssris called ‘selective’?
• they mainly affect serotonin • they do not significantly affect other neurotransmitters like dopamine
63
how do ssris help with ocd symptoms?
• more serotonin improves transmission of messages between neurons • better neurotransmission reduces obsessive thoughts
64
what other condition are ssris effective for?
• ssris are commonly used to treat depression
65
what are benzodiazepines (bz’s)?
• anti-anxiety drugs designed to induce calm • one well-known brand is valium
66
how do bz’s work in the brain?
• they increase transmission of gamma-aminobutyric acid (gaba) • gaba controls neuron hyperactivity linked to fear, anxiety, and stress
67
how do bz’s reduce ocd symptoms?
• bz’s ‘quieten’ the brain by reducing neurotransmission • this helps reduce obsessive thoughts
68
strength of drug therapy for ocd: cost-effective
• cheaper and more available than psychological treatments like cbt • reduces pressure on health service budgets • patients may return to work faster, benefiting the economy
69
strength of drug therapy for ocd: research support
• greist et al. (1995) meta-analysis shows drugs more effective than placebo at reducing ocd symptoms • supports the effectiveness and validity of drug therapy
70
weakness of drug therapy for ocd: side effects
• ssris: blurred vision, loss of libido, irritability, indigestion, sleep problems • bz’s: drowsiness, dizziness, confusion, slurred speech • side effects can limit usefulness in treatment
71
weakness of drug therapy for ocd: publication bias
• positive results more likely to be published than negative ones • goldacre (2013): selective publishing by drug companies • reduces validity of drug therapy and questions true effectiveness
ALEVEL PSYCH
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