OCD

• what does OCD stand for

  obsessive compulsive disorder
• what is OCD

  an anxiety disorder
• what does OCD involve

  obsessions and compulsions
• what are obsessions

  • unwanted and recurring thoughts
  • they are internal (happen in the mind)
  • causing anxiety
• what are compulsions

  • repetitive behaviour (ritualistic)
  • they are external (can be seen as the person is doing them)
  • reduce anxiety
• why are compulsions carried out

  to reduce the anxiety created by the obsessions and to try to stop the obsessive thought or to make them go away
• what happens when compulsions are not carried out

  the individual will feel anxious
• what are some examples of obsessive thoughts

  • believing something will go wrong if your route changes
  • if something is plugged in a fire will start
  • worries of being contaminated by dirt and germs
  • thoughts to harm others
• what are some examples of compulsive behaviour

  • washing hard for a certain amount of time
  • a route
  • having a specific seating
  • unplugging
  • checking locks
  • tidying and cleaning
• what is the difference between obsessions and compulsions

  obsessions are thought occurring in the mind that cannot be seen whereas compulsions are behaviour and external actions which are directly observable
• how does someone with OCD behave

  • compulsive behaviour
  • repetitive behaviour
• how does someone feel with OCD

  • high anxiety
  • stress
  • guilt
• how does someone think with OCD

  • hyperactivity
  • belief in danger if compulsions are not met
• what are the 3 behavioral characteristics of OCD

  • compulsions
  • compulsions
  • avoidance
• what is the behaviorual characteristics of compulsions (repetitive)

  • sufferer of OCD feel compelled to repeat behaviour such as hand washing
  • other common compulsive repetitions are counting, praying, tidying or ordering groups of objects such as CD and food containers
• what is the behavioural characteristics of compulsions in OCD (reduce)

  • reduce anxiety
  • 10% of sufferers show compulsion and no obsessions just a general sense of irrational anxiety
  • majority of compulsions are preformed in an attempt to manage anxiety caused by obsessions
  • Eg// compulsive hand washing is carried out as a response to an obsessive fear of germs
• what is the behavioural characteristics of OCD of avoidance

  • the behaviour of OCD sufferers may cause them to be characterized by their avoidance as they attempt to reduce anxiety by keeping away from the situation that triggers it
  • sufferer of OCD tend to manage by avoiding the situation that causes anxiety
  • this can lead to people avoid everyday life such as emptying bin if they have a phobia of germs causing it to interfere with everyday life
• what are the 3 emotional characteristics of OCD

  • anxiety
  • depression
  • guilt and disgust
• what are the emotional characteristics of anxiety in OCD

  • OCD is regarded as a particularly unpleasant emotional experience because of powerful anxiety that accompanies both obsessions and compulsion
  • obsessive thoughts are unpleasant and frightening and the anxiety that goes with these can be overwhelming
  • the urge to repeat a behaviour (compulsions) creates anxiety
• what are the emotional characteristics of depression in OCD

  • OCD is accompanied with depression
  • anxiety can be accompanied by low mood and lack of enjoyment in activity
  • compulsive behaviour tends to bring relief to anxiety but only temporarily
• what is the emotional characteristics of guilt and disgust in OCD

  • OCD sometimes involves other negative emotions such as irrational guilt such as over minor moral issues pr disgust which may be directed against something external like dirt or self
• what are 3 cognitive characteristics of OCD

  • obsessive thoughts
  • cognitive strategies to deal with obsessions
  • insight into excessive anxiety
• what is the cognitive characteristics of obsessive thoughts in OCD

  • for around 90% of OCD suffers the major cognitive feature of their condition is obsessive thoughts (thoughts that recur over and over again)
  • these vary from person to person but are always unpleasant
  • Eg// worries of being contained by dirt and germ
• what are the cognitive characteristics of cognitive strategies to deal with obsessions in OCD

  • people respond to obsessions by adapting cognitive coping strategies
  • eg// a religious person tormented by obsessive guilt may respond by praying or meditating
  • this may help manage anxiety but can make people appear abnormal and distract from everyday life
• what is the cognitive characteristics of insight into excessive anxiety in OCD

  • sufferers of OCD are aware of their compulsion and obsessions are irrational it is necessary for diagnosis
  • if they believed obsessive thoughts were based on reality this is a symptom of different mental illnesses
  • OCD sufferers experience catastrophic thoughts about the worse cases scenario that might result in anxieties were justified
  • they tend to be hypervigilant - they maintain constant alertness and keep attention focused on potential hazards
• what is the approach to explain and treat OCD

  biological
• what is meant by the genetic explanation of OCD

  OCD is caused by the influence of genes that have been inherited from parents
• what are the 2 different types of twins called who are investigated to see if there is a genetic explanations for OCD

  monozygotic and dizygotic
• what are monozygotic twins

  • developed from the same egg
  • share 100% of genes
• what are dizygotic twins

  • developed from separate eggs
  • they share 50% of genes
• who should have the largest concordance rates if there is a genetic explanation for OCD and why

  monozygotic as they share 100% of genes so if OCD is caused by genetics then if 1 twin has OCD then the other will also does
• what is serotonin

  a neurotransmitter linked to anxiety and regulated moods found in the brain
• what is SSRI

  an anti-depressant drug
• how does SSRI increase serotonin

  SSRI blocks the reuptake of serotonin and increases its levels at the synapse reduces OCD symptoms
• what are the 2 explanations of OCD

  • the genetic explanation
  • neural explanation
• what has biological explanations of OCD have identified

  both genetic factors and low levels of neurotransmitters in the brain play a roles in the disorder
• what are candidate genes

  researchers have identified specific genes which create a vulnerability for OCD
• what genes cause OCD

  OCD is polygenic meaning there is no 1 particular gene responsible for OCD
• what are to candidate genes of OCD

  serotonin genes - sert genes

  dopamine genes - comt genes
• how is the serotonin gene linked to OCD

  • the sert gene is linked to the neurotransmitter serotonin and affects the transport of the serotonin causing lower levels of serotonin which is also associated with OCD (and depression)