OCD

Question 1

What is OCD?

Answer 1

OCD is anxiety surrounding a certain exaggerated idea, which results in a repeated compulsive behaviour.
Both compulsions and obsessions are present in those with OCD.

Question 2

What are the behavioural characteristics of OCD?

Answer 2

1. repetitive compulsions
2. compulsions that reduce anxiety
3. avoidance

Question 3

What are the emotional characteristics of OCD?

Answer 3

1. anxiety and distress
2. accompanying depression
3. guilt and shame

Question 4

What are the cognitive characteristics of OCD?

Answer 4

1. Obsessive thoughts
2. Cognitive coping strategies
3. they know about their excessive anxiety

Question 5

What is the cycle of OCD?

Answer 5

Obsessive thought
Anxiety
Compulsive behaviour
Temporary relief

Question 6

What are candidate genes?

Answer 6

Genes in which make people more vulnerable to OCD than others when present. Some of these genes are responsible in serotonin production.

Question 7

What does it mean that OCD is polygenic?

Answer 7

OCD is caused by more than one gene.

Question 8

What did Taylor (2013) find out about the biological approach to OCD?

Answer 8

OCD is caused by 230 different genes.

Question 9

What 2 neurotransmitters are usually associated with OCD?

Answer 9

serotonin and dopamine

Question 10

How can OCD be explained neurologically by the use of serotonin?

Answer 10

serotonin is related to mood, a decrease in serotonin means that mood can not be regulated well. At least some cases of OCD can be explained by a lack of serotonin or functionality in the serotonin system.

Question 11

What other part of the brain can be involved in OCD?

Answer 11

the frontal lobe

Question 12

how is the frontal lobe involved in OCD?

Answer 12

those with OCD usually have an impaired sense of right or wrong in decision making, decision making is usually located in the frontal lobe.

Question 13

What part of the brain, associated with OCD, is involved in the processing of unpleasant moods?

Answer 13

parahippocampal gyrus

Question 14

What is one strength of the biological approach of OCD?

Answer 14

1. Strong evidence base, Gerald (2010) found that 68% of identical twins shared OCD and it was common that if someone was diagnosed with OCD another person in the family would also have OCD. This is a strength because it shows that OCD is genetic.
2. Existence of supporting evidence for the neural model, antidepressants that work solely on serotonin help in reducing OCD symptoms suggesting that OCD is affected by serotonin. This is a strength because it shows that OCD is biological.

Question 15

What is one limitation of the biological approach of OCD?

Answer 15

1. Environmental risk factors, Cromer (2007) found that over half of the clients with OCD in the study had experienced a traumatic event. This suggests that there are also environmental factors as well as biological.
2. The serotonin-OCD link may not be OCD exclusive, Many people with OCD also have clinical depression, which is called co-morbidity, depression may have impacted the serotonin production. It could simply be that the depression is causing the OCD. This means that serotonin may not be relevant to OCD symptoms.

Question 16

What are the treatments for OCD?

Answer 16

SSRI’s, CBT, and tricyclics, and SNRI’s.

Question 17

what are tricyclics?

Answer 17

an older type of SSRI.

Question 18

what is an example of tricyclics?

Answer 18

clomipramine

Question 19

why are tricyclics used usually?

Answer 19

when people don’t respond well to SSRI’s, tricyclics are given, but they have worse side effects.

Question 20

what are SNRI’s?

Answer 20

a different class of antidepressants, that like tricyclics, are used as a second choice. they are often used for OCD.

Question 21

what is the difference between SSRI’s and SNRI’s?

Answer 21

SSRI’s increase serotonin, SNRI’s increase serotonin and also noroadrenaline.

Question 22

What is a strength of drug therapy for OCD?

Answer 22

1. Good evidence for effectiveness, Soomro et al reviewed 17 studies that used antidepressants and placebos. In all 17 studies, the antidepressants worked, this suggests that the drug therapy works well.
2. Cost effective, the drugs are cheaper and less expensive than psychological therapies. This suggests that the dug therapy is more accessible for the wider population.

Question 23

what is one weakness of drug therapy for OCD?

Answer 23

severe side effects, some side effects involve a loss of sex drive and change in appetite which could bring around more pain than help especially if they do not respond to the SSRI’s, this suggests that some people will have a reduced quality of life.