OCD

• ocd is a disorder characterised by obsession and compulsions. obsessions are intrusive thoughts that are irrational and unpleasant. compulsions are repetitive , rigid behaviors that you feel driven to do.
• emotional effects of ocd are guilt, disgust, anxiety and distress and depression
• behavioural effects of ocd are compulsions, avoidance and cognitive coping strategies
• cognitive effects of ocd are obsessive and catastrophic thoughts, selective attention, being unreasonable and awareness of excessive anxiety
• OCD is explained through the biological approach which makes the following assumptions:

  -the brain and mind are the same and we can understand behaviour through studying the CNS

  -chemicals in brain strongly influence human behaviour

  -human behaviour has evolved biologically with much in common to animals
• one explanation of ocd is genetics:

  -Lewis found that 37% of patients have a parent with ocd and 21% a sibling (concordance)

  -ocd is polygenic, SERT gene affects transport of serotonin causing low levels

  -variation of COMT gene causes high levels of dopamine more common in patients with ocd

  -Taylor conducted met-analysis and found 230 different genes that may play a role in ocd
• explanations for ocd, neurotransmitters:

  -In ocd patients seratonine is not transferred as SERT gene causes nueron receptor to be blocked

  -seratonin accumulate in synaptic gap and gets reuptake by presynaptic neuron
• Neurotransmitters :

  
• neurotransmitters flow diagram:

  1.pre synaptic neuron

  2.carries electrical impulse down the axon where vesicles with serotonin are

  3.impulse will release serotonin into the synapse gap

  4.post synaptic neuron has blocked receptors that wont take in serotonin, stopping electrical transmission

  5.causes brain inactivity due to low levels of seratonin
• explanation for ocd, brain activity:

  -brain activity is a consequence of neurotransmitters

  -frontal lobe is overactive and converts sensory into thoughts (obsessions)

  -basal ganglia produces an action to reduce concern (compulsions)

  -over activity in direct pathway leads to threat messages overwhelming calming messages in indirect pathway due to lack of seratonin so people cannot shift to different behaviour and keep repeating
• treating OCD, SSRI:

  -SSRI is a drug that blocks the pores in the pre-synaptic neuron preventing the re uptake of serotonin.

  -this causes serotonin to accumulate in synapse gap causing an area of high concerntration

  -this forces the receptor to activate and catch serotonin allowing the electrical impulse to be transferred
• treating OCD, Tricyclics and SNRI:

  -these are alternatives to SSRI

  -they use the same method to stop OCD symptoms and also block the re uptake of noradrenaline as well as seratonin

  -they are given to people who have severe side effects to SSRI
• treating OCD, deep brain stimulation (DBS):

  -application of micro currents (electrical shocks) in the parts of the brain in ocd patients that need activating
• supporting evidence for treating OCD, proof of effectivenes ao3:

  -proof that drug treatment are effective

  -soomro et al: reviewed 17 studies comparing SSRI to placebos. he found all 17 studies had significantly better results for SSRI

  -70% had decline in symptoms with SSRI and 30% with other drugs. effective for most people
• limiting evidence for treating OCD, side effects ao3:

  -can have severe side effects e.g blurred vision, loss of sex drive, indigestion

  -may simply have no benefit
• supporting evidence for treating OCD, ao3:

  -cost effective so beneficial for nhs

  -non disruptive to patients life as can simply take pill
• limiting evidence for treating ocd, unreliable evidence:

  -some evidence and research for effectivness in these drug treatments is sponsered by drug companies

  -allows them to make their findings bias and not report all evidence (goldacre 2013)
• supporting evidence for explanations of OCD, a03:

  -strong evidence that ocd is genetic

  -gerald nestadt et al: reviewed twin studies and found that 68% of identical twins shared ocd as opposed to 31% of non-identical twins

  -Marini and stebnicki: found that a person with a family member with ocd is four times more likely to develop it
• limiting evidence for explanations of OCD, a03:

  -there are also environmental risk factors which the genetic explanation does not take into account

  -Kiara comer: found that over half the OCD clients in her sample had experienced a traumatic event and ocd was more severe in those with one or more traumas

  -genetics is only a partial explanation and is reductionist as only 45-60% of twins get ocd
• supporting evidence for explanations of ocd, a03:

  -supporting evidence for neural explanations

  -antidepressents that work purley on seratonin are effective in reducing symptoms which shows seratonin may be involved.
• limiting evidence for explanations of ocd, a03:

  -limitation of nueral model

  -seratonin and ocd link may not be purely unique to OCD as many people with ocd also experience clinical depression

  -simply be that seratonin activity is disrupted in many people with ocd as they are also depressed
• explanations for ocd, a03:

  -view ocd as a disorder that develops based on genotype and brain functioning.

  -these theories are located on nature side of debate
• explanations for ocd, a03:

  -explanations only accept biological factors

  -there are other factors which could cause ocd symptoms:

  -traumatic experience (biological)

  -harsh upbringing (psychodynamic)

  -observing/imitating peoples OCD behaviours (social learning theory)

  -isnt considering external factors and nuture debate