OCD

what is ocd

anxiety characterised by uncontrollable, unwanted thoughts and repetitive, ritualistic behaviours you feel compelled to perform

what are obsessions

involuntary, uncontrollable images that occur over and over in the persons mind

• the are often disturbing and distracting

what are compulsions

Behaviours or rituals that you feel driven to do

• you feel relieved after but this doesn’t last long and obsessive thoughts usually come back stronger

behavioural characteristics of OCD

• repetitive compulsions which reduce anxiety

• Avoidances

Emotional characteristics of OCD

• anxiety and distress

• Depression

• Guilt and disgust

Cognative traits of OCD

• obsessive thoughts

• Strategies to deal with the obsession

• They know they have an issue

The COMPT gene 9genetic explaination)

• involved in the production of catechol-O-methyltransferase

• Regulates the production of the neurotransmitter domapine that is implicated in OCD

• one form of the COMPT gene has been found to be more common in OCD patients than those without the disorder

SERT gene (5-HTT)

• affects the transport of serotonin, creating lower levels of the neurotransmitter

• These low levels are also implicated in the disorder

• Ozaki et al. 2003 found a mutation of the gene in two unrelated families where 6 of the 7 family members had OCD

Diathesis stress

• the idea of a simple link between one gene and a complex disorder is unlikely

• Genes like SERT are also implicated in a number of other disorders, such as depression and PTSD

• This suggests the individual gene only creates a vulnerability for OCD as well as other conditions

• Other factors affect what condition develops - some may have the COMPT or SERT gene variations but don’t suffer from any effects

Abnormal levels of neurotransmitters (neutral explaination)

• dopamine levels are thought to be unusually high in people with OCD

  • This is based on animal studies - enhanced dopamine induces stereotyped movements resembling those of OCD (szechtman 1998)

• Lower levels of serotonin are associated with OCD

  • Anti depressant drugs that increase serotonin reduce OCD symptoms

abnormal brain circuits (neutral explaination)

• areas of the frontal lobe are thought to be abnormal in people with OCD

• The caudate nucleus (in the basal ganglia) normally suppresses signals from the orbitofrontal cortex (OFC) which then sends signals to the thalamus about things that are worriying

• When the caudate nucleus is damaged, it fails to supress minor worry signals and the thalamus is alerted, which in turnsends signals back to the OFC acting as a worry circuit

Neurotransmitter

chemical substances that play an important role in the workings of the nervous system by transmitting the nerve impulses across a synapse

Concordance rate

a measure of generic similarity