OCD

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  • Created by: Sin Heng
  • Created on: 04-03-20 10:28
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  • OCD
    • Characteristics
      • Compulsions
      • Aviodance
      • Anxiety
      • Distress
      • Guilt
      • Disgust
      • Depression
      • Obsessive thoughts
      • Adopting cognitive coping strategies
      • Hypervigilant
      • Insight of their anxiety- they know their beliefs are irrational
    • Explanations
      • Genetic
        • Lewis (1936) observed that 37% of his OCD patients had parents with OCD and 21% had siblings with OCD - suggests OCD runs in the family and genes play a factor of vulnerability for OCD
        • Diathesis-stress model - certain genes leave some people more likely to suffer from a mental disorder but environmental stress is necessary to trigger the condition
        • Candidate genes
        • Polygenic, Taylor (2013) discovered up to 230 genes involved in OCD
        • Aetiologically heterogeneous - origin of OCD has different causes (genes in one person cause OCD but dif. genes may cause OCD in a dif. person
        • Different types of OCD may result of particular gene variations, e.g. hoarding disorder, religious obsession
        • Evaluation
          • P: The genetic explanation is supported by twin studies.
            • E: Nestadt et al. (2010) reviewed previous twin studies and found that 68% of identical twins shared OCD as opposed to 31% of non-identical twins.
              • E: However, studies flawed as they make the assumption that identical twins are only more similar than non-identical on terms of their genes, but identical twins may also be more similar in terms of shared environment. Non-identical twins, e.g. a boy and a girl, may share different experiences. This means that we can't rely on twin studies alone for proof of a genetic causation for OCD.
          • Point: Research into OCD is not clear cut in identifying causation
            • Evidence: Taylor (2013) analysed findings of previous studies and found evidence of up to 230 different genes that may be involved in OCD.
              • Elaboration: There are too many candidate genes, making it difficult in pinning down the exact genes involved as OCD is polygenic and each genetic variation only increases the risk of OCD by a fraction.
          • P: Other research shows the role of environmental triggers in OCD
            • E: Cromer et al. (2007) found that over half of the OCD patients in their sample had a traumatic event in their past, and that OCD was more severe in those with more than one traumatic experience.
              • E: OCD not entirely genetic in origin, environmental factors could  have caused OCD. Focussing on them would be more productive as we are able to do something about that.
      • Neural
        • Neurotransmitter serotonin is believed to help regulate mood.
          • Responsible for relaying information from one neuron to another
        • Evaluation
          • Point: But such research has not been conclusive
          • Point: The neural explanation is also supported by some research into antidepressants
        • Abnormal functioning of frontal lobes
          • There is evidence that parahippocampal gyrus associated with feelings of unpleasantness, functions abnormally in OCD
    • Treatment- drug therapy
      • SSRIs
        • combination with other treatments (CBT or other drugs)
          • drug reduces patient's emotional symptoms meaning they can engage more effectively with CBT
      • Tricyclics - clomipramine
      • SNRIs - noadrenaline
      • Evaluation
        • Point: A strength of biological treatments is that research shows they are effective in reducing symptoms.
          • Evidence; Soomro et al. (2009) reviewed studies comparing SSRIs to placebos in the treatment of OCD and concluded that all 17 studies reviewed showed significantly better results for SSRIs than for placebo conditions. It is proven that OCD symptoms decline for around 70% of patients that take SSRIs.
            • Elaboration; SSRIs are most effective when combined with psychological treatment such as CBT.
        • Point: Bio treatments are advantageous in that patients like them
          • Evidence: Drugs are cost-effective and non-disruptive to patient's life.
            • Elaboration: They don't have to engage in the hard work of psychological therapies and are able to easily take pills.
        • Point: A disadvantage of bio treatments is that they can have side effects.
          • Evidence: Side-effects such as indigestion, blurred vision and loss of sex drive. More than one in ten patients who take clomipramine suffer from erection problems, tremors and weight gain.
            • Elaboration: Even if they are temporary, more effective medication such as Clomipramine can cause more common and more serious problems. This actually reduces effectiveness of the pill and disincentivises patients from using them.
        • Point; A problem with research into bio treatments is the evidence supporting it may not be reliable.
          • Evidence; Goldacre (2013) some psychologists believe evidence supporting drug treatments may be biased as researchers are sponsored by drug companies who do not report all the evidence.
            • Elaboration; This reduces the reliability of the drug. Drug companies may hide negative evidence and show all the benefits of the drug to attract consumers to buy their product, this would increase their profits.
        • Point: Bio treatments can be inappropriate for some sufferers of OCD
          • Evidence: Drugs may work for some people but not for others. It may be more effective in those with severe depression or OCD.
            • Elaboration: OCD may be an outcome from past traumas and not because of the biology of the person.

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