Comprehensive Guide to Obsessive-Compulsive, Stress-Related, and Mood Disorders

What are obsessions in obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD)?

Persistent, unintentional, and unwanted thoughts and urges that are highly intrusive, unpleasant, and distressing.

What are compulsions in obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD)?

Repetitive and ritualistic acts carried out primarily to minimize the distress triggered by obsessions or to reduce the likelihood of a feared event.

What is 'pure O' in the context of OCD?

A form of OCD where individuals experience obsessions without the accompanying compulsive behaviors.

What is Body Dysmorphic Disorder (BDD)?

A disorder characterized by a preoccupation with one or more perceived defects or flaws in physical appearance.

What comorbid conditions are often diagnosed alongside Body Dysmorphic Disorder (BDD)?

Many individuals with BDD are also diagnosed with anxiety disorders or depression.

When does Body Dysmorphic Disorder (BDD) commonly develop?

It commonly develops during adolescence.

What is the criteria for Hoarding Disorder (HD)?

Persistent difficulty discarding or parting with possessions, regardless of their actual value.

What is the criteria for Trichotillomania (TTM)?

Recurrent pulling of hair resulting in hair loss.

In which population is Trichotillomania (TTM) more common?

It is more common in individuals with anxiety disorders.

What is the criteria for Excoriation Disorder?

Recurrent skin-picking resulting in skin lesions.

What neurotransmitter is linked to Excoriation Disorder?

Studies show a link between the neurotransmitter serotonin and skin-picking behavior.

What are chronic stressors?

Events that persist over an extended period of time, such as caring for a parent with dementia or long-term unemployment.

What are acute stressors?

Brief focal events that can be experienced as overwhelming long after the event has ended.

What does the Social Readjustment Rating Scale (SRRS) measure?

It measures the stress associated with various life events.

What is Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)?

A disorder characterized by recurrent, involuntary, and intrusive distressing memories of a traumatic event.

What are some risk factors for developing PTSD?

Trauma experience, greater trauma severity, lack of immediate social support, and more subsequent life stress.

What is Acute Stress Disorder?

A disorder occurring from 3 days to 1 month following exposure to one or more traumatic events.

What distinguishes Adjustment Disorder from major depression?

Adjustment Disorder is caused by an identifiable stressor and generally resolves once the individual adapts to the situation.

What is Prolonged Grief Disorder (PGD)?

A diagnosis characterized by intense longing for the deceased and persistent grief that lasts longer than expected.

What are the types of attachment styles?

Secure attachment, avoidant attachment, resistant attachment, and disorganized attachment.

What characterizes Reactive Attachment Disorder (RAD)?

A consistent pattern of inhibited behavior toward adult caregivers, characterized by rarely seeking or responding to comfort when distressed.

What is Disinhibited Social Engagement Disorder (DSED)?

A pattern of behavior in which a child interacts with unfamiliar adults, showing reduced reticence and overly familiar behavior.

What is the genetic component of OCD according to past research?

OCD has a significant genetic component, as suggested by family and twin studies.

What percentage of vulnerability for PTSD is attributed to genetic influences?

Genetic influences for PTSD account for 30-73% of vulnerability for the disorder.

How do cultural factors relate to OCD?

Some cultures with high standards for behaviors and customs may influence the onset, outcome, and treatment response for OCD.

What do OCD obsessions and compulsions represent according to the psychodynamic perspective?

They represent internal conflict that a person may be trying to cope with, stemming from a clash between the id and the superego.

What crisis might individuals with OCD and PTSD be experiencing according to the humanistic perspective?

They may be undergoing an existential crisis.

What is the cognitive perspective's view on the relationship between thinking and action?

It posits that thinking about an action is the same as doing it.

What do PTSD learning models suggest about the development of symptoms?

Symptoms are developed and maintained through classical conditioning.

What type of medication is commonly used to reduce OCD symptoms?

Serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SRIs), including selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs).

What therapy is shown to be as effective as medication for treating OCD?

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) and related therapies, such as habit reversal training.

What is Exposure and Response Prevention (ERP)?

A therapeutic approach used in the treatment of OCD that involves exposing patients to anxiety-provoking stimuli and preventing their usual response.

What is the commonly implemented therapeutic intervention for compulsive hoarding?

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT).

What is the most widely practiced approach for treating PTSD?

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT).

What is Cognitive Processing Theory (CPT) in the context of PTSD treatment?

A therapeutic approach that helps individuals process and reframe traumatic memories.

What does Eye Movement Desensitization & Reprocessing (EMDR) involve?

A therapy that uses guided eye movements to help process and integrate traumatic memories.

What is Virtual Reality Therapy (VRT) used for?

A treatment method for PTSD that immerses patients in a virtual environment to confront traumatic memories.

What is reconsolidation in memory processing?

The neural processes that occur between an experience and the stabilization of the memory for that experience.

What happens to memories after they have been reconsolidated?

They become the new version of the memory, potentially altered by experiences or interventions.

What is reinstatement in the context of fear memory research?

The process of reactivating a fear memory, which can lead to the return of the fear response.

How can drugs that block fear memory be useful?

They can help reduce the emotional impact of traumatic memories.

What is the role of repetition across days or weeks in treating phobias?

It can enhance the effectiveness of reconsolidation therapy by reinforcing new learning.

What are mood disorders?

A group of disorders characterized by significant disturbances in mood.

What is Major Depressive Disorder (MDD)?

A mood disorder characterized by persistent feelings of sadness and loss of interest.

What is required for a diagnosis of Major Depressive Disorder?

At least five symptoms must be present for a two-week period, causing distress or impairment.

What is the diathesis-stress model?

A model suggesting that mood disorders arise from the interaction of genetic predisposition and environmental stressors.

What are the subtypes of depression according to DSM-5-TR?

Anxious distress, mixed features, melancholic features, atypical features, mood-congruent psychotic features, catatonia, seasonal pattern, and peripartum onset.

What is Disruptive Mood Dysregulation Disorder (DMDD)?

A mood disorder in children characterized by severe temper outbursts and persistent irritability.

What are the two major types of treatment for DMDD?

Psychotherapy and medication.

What is Premenstrual Dysphoric Disorder (PMDD)?

A severe form of premenstrual syndrome that significantly impairs daily functioning.

What is Bipolar I Disorder?

A type of bipolar disorder characterized by at least one manic episode.

What distinguishes Bipolar II Disorder from Bipolar I Disorder?

Bipolar II Disorder involves at least one hypomanic episode and one major depressive episode without full manic episodes.

What is cyclothymic disorder?

A mood disorder characterized by periods of hypomanic symptoms and periods of depressive symptoms lasting for at least two years.

What is the lifetime prevalence of bipolar disorder?

About 1%-3% in the general population.

What neurotransmitters are often imbalanced in mood disorders?

Norepinephrine and serotonin.

What is the role of the prefrontal cortex in mood disorders?

It is involved in emotional processing and is linked to depression.

What is the cognitive theory of depression proposed by Aaron Beck?

It suggests that depression-prone individuals have negative schemas that distort their thinking.

What is the hopelessness theory?

A theory that suggests depression results from a negative outlook on life and a belief that negative events are permanent.

What is the primary treatment for mood disorders?

Medications such as antidepressants and psychotherapy.

What is Electroconvulsive Therapy (ECT)?

A treatment for severe depression that involves electrical stimulation of the brain.

What is Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (TMS)?

A non-invasive treatment that uses magnetic fields to stimulate nerve cells in the brain.

What is the focus of Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)?

It addresses the interplay between thoughts, behaviors, and emotions to treat mood disorders.

What are common risk factors for suicide in individuals with mood disorders?

Substance abuse, prior suicide attempts, access to lethal means, and brain chemistry imbalances.

What is Dialectical Behavior Therapy?

A type of cognitive-behavioral therapy that focuses on teaching skills for emotional regulation and interpersonal effectiveness.

What is the impact of antidepressants on suicide risk?

While they can reduce depressive symptoms, there is a concern about increased risk in certain populations, particularly youth.