OCD: Explaining and Treating (Biological)

• What does OCD stand for?

  Obsessive Compulsive Disorder
• How is OCD commonly misunderstood by the public?

  People often equate being organized with having OCD
• What do repetitive and intrusive thoughts in OCD cause?

  Constant and crippling anxiety
• What is the impact of compulsive behaviors on the lives of individuals with OCD?

  They leave little time for the rest of their lives
• What will be discussed in the video regarding OCD?

  • Biological approach to explaining OCD
  • Genetic and neural explanations
  • Areas of the brain involved
  • Candidate genes
  • Drug treatments
  • Evaluations of the biological approach
• What is the prevalence rate of OCD in the general population?

  2 percent
• What are the common symptoms of OCD?

  Obsessive thoughts and compulsive behaviors
• What are obsessions in the context of OCD?

  Repetitive and unpleasant thoughts that cause anxiety
• What are compulsions in OCD?

  Behaviors that individuals feel compelled to act out to relieve discomfort
• What is the genetic explanation for OCD?

  A vulnerability to OCD is inherited from parents
• What are candidate genes in relation to OCD?

  Genes found more frequently in individuals with OCD
• How many separate genes could be involved in the development of OCD?

  As many as 230 separate genes
• What is the concordance rate for OCD in identical twins?

  68 percent
• What neurotransmitter is most associated with OCD?

  Serotonin
• What happens to serotonin levels in individuals with OCD?

  Low levels of serotonin are thought to cause obsessive thoughts
• What is the role of the cert gene in OCD?

  It is responsible for serotonin transport in the synapse
• What is the worry circuit in relation to OCD?

  A set of brain structures that is overactive in people with OCD
• Which brain structures are involved in the worry circuit?

  The orbital frontal cortex, basal ganglia, and thalamus
• What is the function of the parahippocampal gyrus in relation to OCD?

  It regulates and processes unpleasant emotions
• What are the evaluations of the biological approach to OCD?

  • High concordance rates suggest a genetic origin
  • Issues with assuming DNA causes high concordance rates
  • Environmental factors may play a role
  • Diathesis-stress model suggests genetic vulnerability plus stressor
  • Research shows traumatic life events increase OCD severity
• What is the diathesis-stress model in relation to OCD?

  It suggests individuals inherit a genetic vulnerability to OCD that requires a stressor to develop
• What did the research by Chroma reveal about OCD?

  54 percent of participants with OCD reported at least one traumatic life event
• What is the main type of drug used to control OCD symptoms?

  Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs)
• What is the function of SSRIs in treating OCD?

  They inhibit the reuptake of serotonin in the brain
• What is a common side effect of SSRIs?

  Nausea
• What is a disadvantage of drug therapy for OCD?

  It can have a range of potential side effects
• What is a criticism of the research on drug therapies for OCD?

  Most research is conducted by pharmaceutical companies with financial interests
• What is a potential long-term issue with drug therapy for OCD?

  It may only treat the symptoms, not the cause of OCD
• What did the research by Chroma suggest about the relationship between traumatic life events and OCD?

  Traumatic life events can increase the severity of OCD symptoms
• What are the advantages and disadvantages of drug therapy for OCD?

  Advantages:

  • Relatively inexpensive
  • Convenient for patients

  
  

  Disadvantages:

  • Potential side effects
  • Not preferred by many patients
  • May only treat symptoms, not causes