Pyschopathology 4 (pg 153- 157
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- Created on: 26-08-20 14:03
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- Psychopathology 4 (pg153-157)
- The Biological Approach to EXPLAINING OCD
- Genetic Explanations
- Some mental health issues seem to have stronger biological components, and OCD is a good example of a condition understood to be largely biological and hereditary in nature as genes are involved in individual vulnerability to OCD
- Lewis (1976)
- 37% of his patients had parents with OCD and 21% had siblings with OCD
- There is a VULNERABILITY to OCD, rather than a genetic-definite
- Some environmental stress is needed to trigger mental health
- There is a VULNERABILITY to OCD, rather than a genetic-definite
- 37% of his patients had parents with OCD and 21% had siblings with OCD
- Candidate Genes
- These are the specifically-identified genes needed for OCD
- Some of these genes are involved in regulating the development of the Serotonin system
- These are the specifically-identified genes needed for OCD
- OCD is polygenic
- This means it is not caused by one single gene, but a combination of genetic variations that together increase vulnerability
- Different types of OCD
- One group of genes may cause OCD for one person but another set of different genes may cause it for another
- This is called aetiologically heterogeneous, meaning the origins of OCD vary from one person to another
- One group of genes may cause OCD for one person but another set of different genes may cause it for another
- Neural Explanations
- The genes associated with OCD are likely to affect the levels of key neurotransmitters as well as structures of the brain
- The Role of Serotonin
- Serotonin is a neurotransmitter, believed to help regulate mood
- If someone has low levels of serotonin, normal transmission of mood-relevant information doesn't take place and the person may experience low moods
- Serotonin is a neurotransmitter, believed to help regulate mood
- Decision-making Systems
- In some cases of OCD, mainly hoarding disorder, they seem to be associated with decision-making systems
- This could be associated with abnormal functioning of the lateral of the frontal lobes of the brain, the lobes being responsible for logical thinking and making decisions
- There is also evidence that an area called the Parahippocampal gyrus, associated with processing unpleasant emotions, functions abnormally with OCD.
- This could be associated with abnormal functioning of the lateral of the frontal lobes of the brain, the lobes being responsible for logical thinking and making decisions
- In some cases of OCD, mainly hoarding disorder, they seem to be associated with decision-making systems
- Genetic Explanations
- The Biological Approach to TREATING OCD = Drug Therapy
- Aims to increase or decrease levels of neurotransmitters in the brain, or to increase/ decrease their activity
- SSRIs
- A type of antidepressant called Selective Serotonin Uptake Inhibitor (SSRI)
- Preventing breakdown and reabsorption of Serotonin by the presynaptic neuron
- This means the postsynaptic neurons continue to be stimulated by these drugs
- Serotonin levels are increased.
- This means the postsynaptic neurons continue to be stimulated by these drugs
- Preventing breakdown and reabsorption of Serotonin by the presynaptic neuron
- Dosage and other advice vary
- A typical daily dose of Fluoxetine (aka Prozac) is 20mg, although this may be increased, and is available as liquid capsules. 3-4 months of daily use is needed to impact your symptoms
- A type of antidepressant called Selective Serotonin Uptake Inhibitor (SSRI)
- Combining SSRIs with other treatments
- Drugs are often used alongside CBT as the drugs reducing of a person's emotional symptoms means CBT can be used more effectively as the person is more realistic and reasonable and more available to engage with the therapy
- Some respond better to the use of drugs and therapy together
- Drugs are often used alongside CBT as the drugs reducing of a person's emotional symptoms means CBT can be used more effectively as the person is more realistic and reasonable and more available to engage with the therapy
- Alternatives to SSRIs
- If after 3-4 months the SSRIs are not helping, the dosage can be upped to 60mg, for example, or combined with other drugs
- Tricyclics: an older drug acting on various systems where it has the same effect as SSRIs. However Clomipramine has more sever side-effects so is usually reserved for those who don't respond to SSRIs,
- SNRIs: Serotonin-nonadrenaline reuptake inhibitors are more recent and are a different class of drugs and are a 2nd line of defense for those who don't respond to SSRIs
- If after 3-4 months the SSRIs are not helping, the dosage can be upped to 60mg, for example, or combined with other drugs
- The Biological Approach to EXPLAINING OCD
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