OCD

Question 1

OCD

Answer 1

anxiety disorder characterised by obsessive thinking and repetitive behaviours

Question 2

obsessions

Answer 2

internal components because they are recurrent intrusive thoughts about the source of anxiety/OCD

Question 3

compulsions

Answer 3

external components because they are repetitive behaviours which reduce anxiety (from an obsessive thought)

Question 4

cognitive characteristics

Answer 4

• hypervigilance
• catastrophic thinking
• obsessive thoughts
• insight into excessive anxiety
  O.C.H.I.

Question 5

hypervigilance

Answer 5

Being on the lookout for signs of the source of the OCD.

Question 6

catastrophic thinking

Answer 6

Thinking that the worst will happen if something is or isn’t done e.g. thinking that a family member may die if the kitchen isn’t cleaned again to get rid of germs.

Question 7

obsessive thoughts

Answer 7

Intrusive thoughts that reoccur over and over again. These vary considerably from person to person but are always unpleasant and are about the source of anxiety/OCD

Question 8

insight into excessive anxiety

Answer 8

People with OCD are aware their obsessions and compulsions are not rational

Question 9

emotional characteristics

Answer 9

• anxiety and stress
• accompanying depression
• guilt
• disgust
  D.A.G.A.

Question 10

anxiety and stress

Answer 10

OCD is regarded as particularly unpleasant emotional experience because of the powerful anxiety that accompanies both obsessions and compulsions

Question 11

accompanying depression

Answer 11

OCD is often accompanied by depression, so anxiety can be accompanied by low mood and lack of enjoyment in activities

Question 12

guilt and disgust

Answer 12

OCD sometimes involves other negative emotions (guilt over minor moral issues, or disgust which may be directed against something external like dirt or at the self

Question 13

behavioural characteristics

Answer 13

• avoidance
• Compulsions are repetitive and reduce anxiety

Question 14

avoidance

Answer 14

They attempt to reduce anxiety by keeping away from situations that trigger it

Question 15

Compulsions are repetitive and reduce anxiety

Answer 15

People with OCD tend to repeat behaviour and have a general sense of irrational anxiety from obsessions which they tend to solve by performing compulsive behaviours in an attempt to manage the anxiety

Question 16

biological approach on OCD

Answer 16

sees abnormal conditions, such as OCD, as being similar to physical illnesses caused by abnormal biological (physical) processes.

Question 17

2 main biological explanations for OCD

Answer 17

• Neural explanations – the occurrence of OCD through abnormal functioning of neural (brain) mechanisms and neurotransmitters.
  
  • Genetic explanations – hereditary influences through genetic transmission from parent to offspring (i.e. inheritance).

Question 18

neural explanation of OCD- abnormal neurotransmitter levels

Answer 18

• lower levels of serotonin activity associated with obsessions
• leads to higher activity levels in orbital frontal cortex which sends more worry signals
• higher levels of dopamine associated with compulsive behaviours
• because overactivity in basal ganglia impacts caudate nucleus’ ability to suppress worry signals from the OFC

Question 19

neural explanation of OCD- abnormal brain circuits

Answer 19

• high levels of activity in OFC
• OFC sends a signal about a minor worry (more than usual) (obsessions)
• caudate nucleus is damaged so doesnt suppress the message which continues to the hypothalamus
• thalamus creates the impulse to act
• thalamus sends message back to OFC (compulsions)

Question 20

orbital frontal cortex

Answer 20

sends signal to the thalamus about things that are worrying.

Question 21

thalamus

Answer 21

leads to impulse to act and then to stop activity when the impulse lessens.

Question 22

caudate nucleus in basal ganglia

Answer 22

normally suppresses signals from the OFC. If damaged, it fails to do this and so the thalamus is alerted about minor ‘worry’ signals. It sends signals back to the OFC acting as a worry circuit.

Question 23

genetic explanation of OCD

Answer 23

• COMT gene
• one form of the gene leads to lower activity of the gene
• higher levels of dopamine
• compulsions of OCD (overactivity in basal ganglia impacts caudate nucleus’ ability to suppress worry signals from OFC)
• SERT gene
• one form of the gene affects transportation of serotonin
• lower levels of serotonin
• obsessions of OCD (higher activity levels in OFC which sends more worry signals)