OCD (Psychopathology)

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What are the 2 behavioural characteristics of OCD?
Compulsions = repetitive behaviours that they feel obliged to perform. Avoidance = Person tries to stay out of situations that may trigger their compulsions.
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What are the 3 emotional characteristics of OCD?
Anxiety and distress = Urge to repeat behaviours causes overwhelming anxiety. Accompanying depression = lack of enjoyment and low mood. Guilt and disgust = Irrational guilt over minor moral issues.
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What are the 3 cognitive characteristics of OCD?
Obsessive thoughts = prominent in OCD, varies from person to person. Cognitive strategies = Coping strategies help with anxiety but may appear abnormal. 3 Aware of irrationality = They are aware they are being irrational but still experience anxiety.
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What is the cycle of OCD?
Obsession -> Anxiety -> compulsion -> temporary relief.
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What does the genetic explanation say about OCD?
Genes are transmitted from parents to offspring. The genes associated with OCD are likely to effect the levels of key neurotransmitters as well as structures of the brain.
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What are the concordance rates for twins in OCD?
MZ = 68% and DZ = 31%.
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Why do concordance rates for twins with OCD provide evidence that OCD is genetic?
Because they theoretically share 100% of the same environment, this means the difference in concordance rates must be down to genes.
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What did Lewis (1936) observe in families with OCD?
37% of his OCD patients had parents with OCD and 21% had siblings with OCD - suggests it runs in families.
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What are candidate genes and how do they play a role in OCD?
Genes that create a vulnerability to OCD. Some of these genes are involved in regulating the development of the serotonin system
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What does aetiologically heterogeneous mean?
One group of genes may cause OCD in one person, but a different group of genes may cause the disorder in other. Means the origin of OCD has different causes.
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What is the role of serotonin?
Helps to regulate mood.
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What does the serotonin system have to do with OCD?
A reduction in the function of the serotonin system may cause symptoms of OCD. If a person has low levels of serotonin then normal transmission of mood related information does not take place.
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What role does the Orbito-frontal cortex play in OCD?
This is involved with the cognitive process of decision making and is believed to be linked with obsessions. Increased activity may explain obsessive focus on repetitive thoughts.
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What role does the Basal Ganglia play in OCD?
This initiates motor functions. An increased activity may explain repetitive actions.
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What does SSRI stand for?
Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors.
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What do SSRI's do?
They prevent re-absorption and breakdown of serotonin, effectively increasing its levels in the synapse and thus continuing to stimulate post-synaptic neutrons.
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Card 2

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What are the 3 emotional characteristics of OCD?

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Anxiety and distress = Urge to repeat behaviours causes overwhelming anxiety. Accompanying depression = lack of enjoyment and low mood. Guilt and disgust = Irrational guilt over minor moral issues.

Card 3

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What are the 3 cognitive characteristics of OCD?

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Card 4

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What is the cycle of OCD?

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Card 5

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What does the genetic explanation say about OCD?

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