OCD: explaining and treating (biological approach)

• What is OCD often misunderstood as?

  A mental health condition
• Why do some people say they are "a bit OCD"?

  They minimize the suffering of those with OCD
• What dominates the internal mental world of someone with OCD?

  Repetitive and intrusive thoughts
• What is the result of compulsive behaviors in OCD?

  They leave little time for other activities
• What will be discussed regarding OCD in the video?

  • Biological approach to explaining OCD
  • Genetic and neural explanations
  • Drug treatments and evaluations
• What is the prevalence rate of OCD in the general population?

  2%
• What are the common symptoms of OCD?

  Obsessive thoughts and compulsive behaviors
• What is the nature of obsessive thoughts in OCD?

  They are repetitive and unpleasant
• What do compulsions aim to relieve?

  Discomfort caused by obsessive thoughts
• What is a common obsession related to cleanliness in OCD?

  Fear of dirt and contagion
• What is a common obsession related to security in OCD?

  Fear of burglary
• What is a common obsession related to fire in OCD?

  Fear of causing a fire
• What are the genetic explanations for OCD?

  • Vulnerability to OCD is inherited
  • Candidate genes linked to OCD: G9 comp, cert, 5 ht1d beta
  • OCD is polygenetic with up to 230 genes involved
• What is the concordance rate for OCD in identical twins?

  68%
• What is the concordance rate for OCD in non-identical twins?

  31%
• What neurotransmitter is most associated with OCD?

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

  They are thought to be low
• What is the role of the cert gene in OCD?

  It is responsible for serotonin transport
• What is the worry circuit in the brain related to OCD?

  • Overactive communication between brain structures
  • Involves the orbital frontal cortex, basal ganglia, and thalamus
  • Responsible for filtering out minor worries
• What is the function of the parahippocampal gyrus in OCD?

  Regulates and processes unpleasant emotions
• What does a high concordance rate suggest about OCD?

  • Indicates a genetic origin
  • Close relations share more DNA
  • Higher chance of sharing genetic factors
• What is the diathesis-stress model in relation to OCD?

  Genetic vulnerability plus environmental stressors
• What percentage of participants with OCD reported a traumatic life event?

  54%
• What is a criticism of neural imaging studies in OCD?

  • Correlational research cannot establish causation
  • Hyperactivity may be a consequence of OCD
  • Difficult to determine the cause-effect relationship
• What is the main type of drug used to treat OCD?

  SSRIs
• What does the term "selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors" mean?

  They influence serotonin levels in the brain
• How do SSRIs affect serotonin in the synapse?

  They slow down the reuptake process
• How long can it take for SSRIs to impact symptoms?

  Three to four months
• What are common side effects of drug therapy for OCD?

  Nausea, headache, and insomnia
• What are the advantages of drug therapy for OCD?

  • Relatively inexpensive treatment
  • Convenient for patients
  • Less time-consuming than psychological therapies
• What are the disadvantages of drug therapy for OCD?

  • Potential side effects
  • Dependency on medication
  • May only treat symptoms, not causes
• What does research by crime suggest about traumatic life events and OCD?

  They may increase severity of OCD symptoms
• What is the role of the NHS regarding drug therapy and CBT?

  NHS prefers drug therapy due to cost
• What are the criticisms of drug therapy research?

  • Conducted by pharmaceutical companies
  • Financial interest in positive results
  • Negative results often remain unpublished