OCD

• What is OCD?

  OCD is an anxiety disorder involving obsessive thoughts and repetitive compulsions
• Behavioural characteristics of OCD:

  • compulsions
  • avoidance
• Emotional characteristics of OCD:

  • anxiety and distress
  • comorbid depression
• Cognitive characteristics of OCD:

  • obsessive thoughts
  • selective attention
• The main assumption of the biological approach is that OCD is caused by a physical/bodily problem.
• Biological explanations for OCD:

  • neural (neurotransmitters and structure of the brain)
  • genetic (twin studies and candidate genes)
• evaluations of biological explanations of OCD

  🙂 Evidence to support (Billett)

  🙂 Practical application

  ☹️ Issues establishing causality

  ☹️ Ignores the role of learning
• Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors:

  • also an antidepressant
  • increase amount of serotonin
  • block the reuptake pump
  • more serotonin can attach to receptors
  • alleviates symptoms of OCD
• Evaluation of biological treatment for OCD:

  🙂 appropriate treatment for all

  🙂 evidence to support

  ☹️ side effects

  ☹️ treats the symptoms not the cause