Psych 305 Exam 2 Obsessive-Compulsive and Related Disorders Flashcards

Q: What are the major symptom criteria for Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD)?

Presence of obsessions (intrusive, unwanted thoughts) and/or compulsions (repetitive behaviors or mental acts) aimed at reducing anxiety or preventing feared outcomes.

Q: Common obsessions

contamination, harm, symmetry, taboo thoughts.

Q: Common compulsions

washing, checking, counting, arranging.

Q: OCD main diagnostic criteria

involves obsessions and/or compulsions.

Q: Body Dysmorphic Disorder main diagnostic criteria

involves preoccupation with perceived physical defects.

Hoarding Disorder main diagnostic criteria

involves persistent difficulty discarding possessions.

Trichotillomania main diagnostic criteria

involves hair pulling

Excoriation main diagnostic criteria

involves skin picking.

Q: What are key factors in the multipath model for OCD and related disorders?

Biological: genetics, abnormal brain circuits (e.g. orbitofrontal cortex, basal ganglia). Psychological: thought-action fusion (believing that thinking about an action = doing that action), cognitive distortions. Social: reinforcement of compulsions, stressful life events. Sociocultural: cultural norms around cleanliness or appearance.

Q: What is the main biological treatment for OCD?

SSRIs (like fluoxetine, sertraline).

Q: What is Exposure and Response Prevention (ERP) for OCD and how is it thought to work?

Gradual exposure to obsession triggers while preventing compulsions, reducing anxiety via habituation and disconfirming feared outcomes.