OCD

• characteristic of OCD


  Cognitive -> obsession, reflection

  behavioural -> compulsion, rituals

  emotional -> anxiety, distress
• biological explanation


  genetic

  neural
• Genetic explanation

  • genetic vulnerability
  • Mz v DZ research
  • vulnerability to OCD
  • 37% of OCD patients had OCD
  • KEY STUDY GRoothest et al (2005) twin study
  • OCD is polygenic
• Neural explanation


  decision making

  Orbital frontal cortex-> responsible for generating and sending worry signals

  caudate nucleus-> normally suppresses worry signals if damaged

  thalamus is alerted and confirms worry to OF COURSE creating a worry circuit to ruminate

  role of neurotransmitter seriotonin -> helps regulate mood

  responsible for relaying information from one neutron to another
• Evaluation for genetic explanation

  + research to support -> twin study 68% of identical twins (MZ) shared OCD 31% non identical Genetic influence on OCD

  -Enviromental risk factor ->OCD isn’t all genetic variation enviromental factors can impact. Kiera Cromer found that over half OCD has experience traumatic
• Evaluation of neural explanation of OCD

  + research to support -> antidepressant work purely on serotonin in reducing OCD symptoms suggest serotonin may be involved in OCD. Form part conditions for example Parkinson disease suggest biological factor may be responsible for OCD

  -no unique neural system -> serotonin OCD link may not be unique to OCD. Many people with OCD -> depression. depression involves disruption of serotonin . Leaves us with logical problem when it come to serotonin as a possible basis for OCD. serotonin affected ->depression . Serotonin may not be relevant to OCD
• TREATMENT FOR OCD
• Drug therapy

  Aim to increase or decrease levels of neurotransmitters in the brain to increase/decrease their activity
• selective serotonin reputable inhibitor

  • Proserotonergic agent -> widely prescribed for the treatment of depression, OCD, bulimia, anorexia and phobia
  • Neurons normally recycle serotonin by re absorbing it SSRIs work by inhibiting this re-uptake of serotonin
  • Cause the orbital frontal cortex to function at more normal level, reducing anxiety and limiting the worry circuit
  • If SSRIs nit effective, tricyclics or SNRIs can be given
• evaluation of SSRI's for OCD treatment

  +effectiveness ->Mufasa soomoro reviewed 17.study that compared SSRI's to placebo in treatment . All 17 showed significantly better outcomes for SSRIs than placebos . symptoms reduced for around 70% of people taking. means drugs helpful

  -side effects small minority get no benefits and experience side effects such as indigestion, burred vision and loss of sex drive . usually temporary can be quite distressing. reduced quality of life as a result of taking drugs so may stop