Psychopathology - OCD

1. What does OCD stand for?

1.     Obsessive compulsive disorder

2. What are obsessions?

Cognitive, persistent, forbidden, invasive thoughts – causes anxiety

3. What are compulsions?

1.     Behavioural, repetitive behaviour – reduces anxiety

4. How is depression related to OCD?

1.     Emotional, co-morbid (OCD can lead to depression – high levels of anxiety)

5. What are the cognitive characteristics of OCD?

-          Obsessive thoughts – recurring negative or unpleasant thoughts

-          Cognitive coping strategies – people will find ways to cope with the obsessive thoughts but often results in behaviour that seems unusual to others

-          Insight into excessive anxiety – sufferers are aware that their obsessions and compulsions aren’t rational (required for a diagnosis of OCD)

6. What are the behavioural characteristics of OCD?

-          Compulsions – sufferers often feel compelled to repeat a behaviour, these compulsions reduce anxiety (90% of patients experience compulsions)

-          Avoidance – sufferers avoid situations that they feel may trigger their OCD, these avoidance behaviours can be so severe that they interfere with normal life

7. What are the emotional characteristics of OCD?

   

-          Anxiety and distress – obsessions and compulsions cause powerful, overwhelming anxiety which makes OCD a very distressing condition to have

-          Accompanying depression – may involve low mood, lack of enjoyment, completing compulsions can bring some relief from the depression but only temporary

-          Guilt and disgust – anxiety and depression can be accompanied by other unpleasant emotions such as guilt and disgust

8. What is the cycle of OCD?

1.     Obsessive thought —> anxiety —> compulsive behaviour —> temporary relief

9. Describe the genetic explanation for OCD.

1.     Individuals inherit specific genes from their parents which influence the onset of OCD, certain genes increase an individual’s vulnerability to OCD.

10. Which two hormones are thought to be most involved with the acquisition of OCD?

-          Serotonin – the hormone involved in regulating mood, well-being and feelings of happiness.

Dopamine – the hormone associated with feelings of pleasure and reward

11. Who investigated the biological components of OCD?

1.     Lewis (1936)

12. What were his findings?

1.     Of his sample, 37% had parents with OCD, 21% had siblings with OCD, suggests that what is passed between generations is a biological vulnerability not a certainty.

13. Who suggested OCD was a polygenic condition, what does it mean and what was his suggestion?

1.     Taylor (2013), that there are several candidate genes involved in the acquisition of OCD, he suggested 230 different genes.

14. Which gene has an influence of dopamine & how does it affect it?

1.     COMT gene:

-          Variation/mutation in the COMT gene causes a decrease in COMT activity and higher levels of dopamine in the brain.

-          Feelings of pleasure increase when compulsions are completed – positive reinforcement to continue behaviours.

-          Decreased COMT activity = higher levels of dopamine in synapse.

-          E.g. you will feel more pleasure for turning off a light multiple times – more likely to repeat compulsions.

-          Mutation in COMT gene is motivation for compulsions.

15. Which gene has an influence of serotonin & how does it affect it?

1.     SERT gene:

-          Variation/mutation in the SERT gene causes an increase in transporter proteins, leads to an increase in the reuptake of serotonin, means there are lower levels of serotonin in the synapse

-          Results in mood regulation disappearing

-          More transporter proteins = more neurotransmitters removed = lower level of serotonin in synapse = no mood regulation

-          Mutation in SERT gene is motivation for obsessions and depression.

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