OCD

• What is obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD)?

  OCD is a mental disorder where sufferers experience persistent and intrusive thoughts occurring as obsessions, compulsions, or a combination of both.
• What is an obsession in the context of OCD?

  An obsession is a cognition or thought that takes place in the mind, often intrusive and unwanted.
• What are some examples of obsessions in OCD?

  Examples include contamination, fear of losing control, perfectionism, and religious concerns.
• How do obsessions manifest in individuals with OCD?

  Obsessions manifest as intrusive, recurring, and unwanted thoughts.
• What is the OCD cycle?

  • Obsessive thought appears
  • Compulsive behavior is performed
  • Temporary relief is experienced
  • Anxiety increases, leading to more obsessive thoughts
• What is a compulsion in the context of OCD?

  A compulsion is a behavior or action that a person feels driven to perform.
• What are some examples of compulsions in OCD?

  Examples include excessive washing and cleaning, excessive checking, repetitions, or hoarding.
• How do sufferers of OCD perceive their obsessions and compulsions?

  Most sufferers realize their obsessive ideas and compulsions are excessive and only provide temporary relief.
• What is the relationship between compulsions and anxiety in OCD?

  Compulsions are performed to reduce anxiety created by obsessions, but they often lead to higher levels of anxiety.
• How does OCD affect a sufferer's daily life?

  OCD can become very time-consuming, affecting the ability to conduct everyday activities.
• What is the prevalence of OCD in the population?

  OCD occurs in 2% of the population, with no difference in prevalence between males and females.
• How does the onset of OCD differ between males and females?

  Males tend to have an earlier, gradual onset with more severe symptoms.
• What are the main diagnostic criteria for OCD?

  1. Presence of obsessions and/or compulsions on most days for two weeks or more.
  2. Obsessions and compulsions are repetitive, unpleasant, and interfere with daily life.
• What are the behavioral characteristics of OCD?

  Behavioral characteristics relate to compulsions performed repeatedly to reduce anxiety created by obsessions.
• What are some examples of compulsive behaviors?

  Examples include hand washing, tidying, ordering objects, and mental acts like praying or counting.
• Why do patients feel compelled to perform compulsive behaviors?

  Patients feel they must perform these actions to prevent something dreadful from happening.
• What is the impact of avoidance behaviors in OCD?

  Avoidance behaviors reduce anxiety by keeping away from triggering situations but can interfere with normal life.
• How do obsessions and compulsions affect everyday functioning?

  Obsessions and compulsions create anxiety that severely hinders the ability to perform everyday functions.
• What emotional characteristics are associated with OCD?

  Emotional characteristics include embarrassment, shame, co-morbidity with depression, anxiety, and distress.
• How does awareness of excessive behavior affect OCD sufferers?

  Sufferers are aware that their behavior is excessive, leading to feelings of embarrassment and shame.
• What is the relationship between OCD and depression?

  OCD is often accompanied by depression, leading to low mood and lack of enjoyment in activities.
• What is the nature of compulsive behavior in relation to anxiety?

  Compulsive behavior tends to bring some relief from anxiety, but this relief is temporary.
• What are the cognitive characteristics of OCD?

  Cognitive characteristics include realization of inappropriateness, unpleasant recurring thoughts, hypervigilance, and suicidal ideation.
• What does hypervigilance mean in the context of OCD?

  Hypervigilance refers to maintaining constant alertness and focusing on anxiety-generating stimuli.
• What is the genetic explanation of OCD?

  The genetic explanation suggests that an individual's genetic makeup may affect their likelihood of developing OCD.
• What is the neural explanation of OCD?

  The neural explanation focuses on how brain functioning may differ in individuals with OCD compared to those without the condition.
• What did Lewis (1936) observe about OCD patients?

  Lewis observed that 37% of his OCD patients had parents with OCD and 21% had siblings with OCD.
• What does it mean that OCD is polygenic?

  OCD is polygenic, meaning it is not caused by one single gene but involves several candidate genes.
• What did Taylor (2013) find regarding genes involved in OCD?

  Taylor found evidence that up to 230 different genes may be involved in OCD.
• What does it mean that OCD is etiologically heterogeneous?

  OCD is etiologically heterogeneous, meaning different combinations of genes may cause the disorder in different people.
• What are the two main candidate genes associated with OCD?

  The two main candidate genes are the COMT gene and the SERT gene.
• What is the role of the COMT gene in OCD?

  The COMT gene is involved in the production of the enzyme COMT, which regulates dopamine levels.
• How does the SERT gene affect serotonin levels in OCD?

  The SERT gene regulates the transport of serotonin in the synapse, and its high activity leads to lower serotonin levels.
• What did Nestadt et al. (2010) find regarding twin studies of OCD?

  Nestadt et al. found that 68% of identical twins share OCD compared to 32% of non-identical twins.
• What does the higher concordance rate in identical twins suggest about OCD?

  The higher concordance rate suggests that there must be a genetic component to the development of OCD.
• What is a limitation of the biological explanation of OCD?

  A limitation is that it does not account for alternative explanations, such as environmental stressors triggering OCD.
• What did Cromer et al. (2007) find regarding traumatic events and OCD?

  Cromer et al. found that over half of OCD patients had a traumatic event in their past, and OCD was more severe in those with multiple traumas.
• What does the diathesis-stress model suggest about OCD?

  The diathesis-stress model suggests that there is a genetic vulnerability triggered by an environmental stressor that results in OCD.
• Why might the biological explanation alone not be sufficient for understanding OCD?

  The biological explanation alone may not provide a complete understanding of OCD due to the influence of environmental factors and traumatic experiences.
• What are neurons?


  Neurons are the fundamental building blocks of the nervous system.