OCD

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  • Created by: o_cook
  • Created on: 18-11-19 15:53
What type of disorder is OCD?
Anxiety disorder
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Cognitive characteristics?
Obsessions are thoughts that create anxiety -> Recurrent, intrusive and unwelcome thoughts which the individual will recognise as excessive and unreasonable
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Behavioural characteristics?
urges that reduce anxiety caused by obsessive thoughts -> overt= hand washing or covert= prayers to avert perceived danger
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Emotional characteristics?
OCD can cause anxiety and distress, embarrassment and shame
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Biological explanation to OCD? (1)
family (Nestadt et al., 2000) and twin studies (Billet et al., 1988) provide a genetic basis to OCD -> 1st degree relatives (parents/ siblings) had a 5x and MZ twins had a 2x greater risk
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Biological explanation to OCD? (2)
COMT gene – produces the enzyme which regulates the production of dopamine (NT) implicated in OCD-> lower activity of COMT gene= higher levels of dopamine (Tukel et al., 2013)
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Biological explanation to OCD? (3)
SERT gene – lowers levels of serotonin (NT) (Ozaki et al., 2003)
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what is the diathesis- stress model?
some individuals have a predisposition (vulnerability = diathesis) for OCD, which may be triggered by environmental factors, e.g. stress. Nature/ nurture
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What are the neural explanations of OCD?
serotonin levels are low (Antidepressants increase these levels to treat OCD), dopamine levels are high (animals given drugs to increase levels), the frontal lobe is associated with decision-making = impaired in OCD patients
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Evaluation of biological approach to explaining OCD (+)
Menzies et al. used MRI to produce images of brain activity in OCD patients and compared it to their immediate family who didn’t have OCD. They also compared it to the brains of a healthy person
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Biological Treatments for OCD (1)
1.) SSRI's = SSRIs increase serotonin levels thus regulating mood and anxiety e.g. prozac
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Biological Treatments for OCD (2)
Prolong the activity of both serotonin and adrenaline in the synapse (same as SSRIs)- they target 2 NT’s, but more side effects (e.g. irregular heartbeats or hallucinations)
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evaluation of biological treatments (+)
Soomro et al.’s (2008) meta-analysis of 17 studies found that SSRIs were more effective than placebos up to 3 months after treatment. This was the case for around 70% of the patients
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evaluation of biological treatments (-)
Drugs are criticised for treating symptoms of OCD of the disorder and not the cause Drug therapy is efficient in the short-term but does not deal with the causes -> patients relapse if medication is stopped.
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Card 2

Front

Cognitive characteristics?

Back

Obsessions are thoughts that create anxiety -> Recurrent, intrusive and unwelcome thoughts which the individual will recognise as excessive and unreasonable

Card 3

Front

Behavioural characteristics?

Back

Preview of the front of card 3

Card 4

Front

Emotional characteristics?

Back

Preview of the front of card 4

Card 5

Front

Biological explanation to OCD? (1)

Back

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