OCD

Question 1

What are the DSM-5 categories for OCD?

Answer 1

• OCD
• Trichotillomania
• Hoarding disorder
• Excoriation disorder

Question 2

What are the behavioural characteristics of OCD?

Answer 2

• Compulsion to repeat a behaviour
• Compulsions reduce anxiety
• Avoidance of situations that trigger obsessive thoughts

Question 3

What are the cognitive characteristics of OCD?

Answer 3

• Uncontrollable obsessive thoughts not based in reality
• Coping strategies (compulsions)
• Aware that thoughts are not based in reality
• Hyper-vigilance

Question 4

Explain the genetic explanation of OCD

Answer 4

• Genes cause vulnerability, stress activates them
• Specifically genes involved in the transfer of serotonin
• Caused by varying combinations of genes
• Origins may vary between people

Question 5

Evaluate the genetic explanation of OCD

Answer 5

• Twin and family studies, strong evidence
• Triggering stress is involved, so OCD not entirely genetic

Question 6

Explain the neural explanation of OCD

Answer 6

• OCD may be caused by low serotonin levels
• Involves impaired decision making, so frontal lobe may also be affected
• Parahippocampal gyrus observed to behave abnormally for those with OCD

Question 7

Evaluate the neural explanation of OCD

Answer 7

• Evidence: antidepressants to raise serotonin can treat OCD
• Many with OCD also depressed, so low serotonin may be irrelevant (correlation/causation)

Question 8

Explain the biological approach to treating OCD

Answer 8

• SSRIs (antidepressants): blocks reputake of serotonin, allows more to stimulate post-synaptic neuron, takes 3-4 months of daily intake to impact symptoms
• Tricyclics: older antidepressants, have more side effects
• SNRIs: block reputake of serotonin and noradrenaline