ocd

• What is a strength of Statistical infrequence?
• What is a weakness of deviation from social norms?
• What is a weakness of failure to function adequately?
• What is a strength of deviation from social norms?
• Obsessive Compulsive disorder


  A condition characterised by obsessions and/or compulsive behaviour. Obsessions are cognitive whereas compulsions are behavioural.
• Disorders recognised by the DSM-5

  • OCD
  • Trichotillomania- compulsive hair pulling
  • Hoarding disorder- gathering possessions and an inability to part with anything regardless of value
  • Excoriation disorder- compulsive skin picking
• Compulsion


  Behaviour (something you feel the need to do)
• Obsession


  About cognition (is something you think about)
• 70% of OCD sufferers experience both obsessions and compulsions combined. However, 20% experience just obsessions alone and 10% experience just compulsions alone.
• Cognitive characteristics of OCD

  • Obsessive thoughts
  • Cognitive coping strategies
  • Insight into excessive anxiety
• Obsessive thoughts


  For sufferers of OCD, these thoughts occur over and over again
• Obsessive thoughts


  • Fear of contamination, by dirt or germs
  • Fear of safety, by leaving doors or windows
  • Religious fears, from being immoral
  • Perfectionism, a fear of not being the best
• Cognitive coping strategies


  Sufferers of OCD adopt cognitive strategies to deal with their obsessions. For example, sufferers with religious obsessions may pray over and over, to reduce their feelings of being immoral.
• Insight into excessive anxiety


  Sufferers of OCD know that their obsessions and compulsions are irrational and experience selective attention directed towards the anxiety-generating stimuli (similar to the selective attention found in phobias).
• Emotional characteristics of OCD

  • Anxiety and distress
  • Accompanying depression
  • Guilt and disgust
• Anxiety and distress


  Unpleasant emotional experiences are due to powerful anxiety which is often paired with obsessions and compulsions. These emotions are overwhelming.
• Accompanying depression


  The anxiety experienced can often result in a low mood and loss of pleasure in everyday activities
• Guilt and disgust


  Obsessions are persistent and/or forbidden thoughts and ideas, which cause high levels of anxiety in OCD sufferers.
• Behavioural characteristics of OCD

  • Compulsions are repetitive
  • Compulsions reduce anxiety
  • Avoidance
• Compulsions are repetitive


  Sufferers will often feel compelled to repeat a behaviour
• Compulsions reduce anxiety


  For example, the excessive hand washing is caused by an excessive fear of germs and bacteria and is therefore a direct response to the obsession.
• Avoidance


  Sufferers may attempt to avoid situations which might trigger compulsions. They try to manage their OCD for example, people who compulsively hand wash may avoid taking out bins or going outside where germs may be present. This can then interfere with their lives.
• The biological approach sees OCD and other abnormalities in the same way it sees a physical illness, explaining it by abnormal biological processes.
• OCD is a good example of a condition that is largely explained through a biological nature.
• Genetic explanation


  Concerned with issues of heritability. How likely is it that OCD can be inherited?
• Genetic explanations have focused on identifying particular genes which are implicated in OCD. It is known as a polygenic which means there are multiple genes that might be involved with the development of OCD.
• Candidate genes


  • Genes which create this vulnerability for OCD
• Some of these genes are involved in regulating the development of the serotonin system. Eg 5HT1-D beta.
• Genes linked to OCD

  • COMT gene
  • SERT gene
• COMT gene


  Associated with the production and regulation of the neurotransmitter dopamine. One variation of the COMT gene results in higher levels of dopamine and this variation is more common in patients with OCD, in comparison to people without OCD.
• SERT gene (also known as the 5-HTT gene)


  Linked to the neurotransmitter serotonin and affects the transport of the serotonin (hence SERotonin Transporter), causing lower levels of serotonin which is also associated with OCD (and depression)
• OCD is also known to be polygenic. This means that OCD is not caused by only one gene but multiple/ combination of genes that together increase vulnerability.
• Research Support


  • Classic study by Lewis (1936) observed OCD in patients and found 37% have parents with OCD and 21% had siblings with OCD. This suggested that OCD can run in families.
  • MZ twins have a higher concordance rate for OCD than DZ twins. Billet et al (1998) 68%MZ and DZ 31%.
• Diathesis-stress model


  Certain genes leave some people more likely to develop mental disorder but is not certain. Instead, it is suggested that certain environments are most likely to trigger the development of the condition.
• Taylor (2013) analysed findings of previous studies and found evidence of up to 230 different genes that may be involved with OCD development. These include the action of dopamine as well as serotonin both neurotransmitters believed to have a role in regulating mood.
• Genetic explanations suggest OCD is inherited and that individuals inherit specific genes which cause OCD.
• Biological psychologists rely on twins/family research for their studies on genetics.
• Neural explanation and evaluation

  Monday 26th February
• Name one behavioural, cognitive and emotional characteristic of phobia
• Name one behavioural, cognitive and emotional characteristic of OCD