OCD Flashcards
What is OCD?
A psychiatric disorder consisting of obsessions which lead to heightened anxiety and distress resulting in compulsions in an attempt to relive the negative feelings
What is an Obsession?
Recurrent and persistent thoughts, urges,, or images that are experienced as intrusive or unwanted
What is a Compulsion?
Repetitive behaviour or mental acts aimed at preventing or reducing anxiety or distress
Unrealistic or Excessive
What percentage of the populations affected by OCD?
2%
OCD is among the top 10 leading causes of illness related ________ worldwide
Disability
What are the DSM-5 Criteria for OCD?
- Obsessions
- Compulsions
Time-consuming
Cause significant psychological distress
What does the Yale-Brown Obsessive Compulsive Scale (Y-BOCS) rate clinical severity in OCD on?
- Time
- Degree of interference
- Subjective distress
- Resistance
- Degree of control
What are the four discrete dimensions of OCD?
Symmetry
Taboo Thoughts
Contamination
Hoarding
What is the CSTC circuit?
Cortico-Striato-Thalamo-Cortical Circuit
What does the CSTC circuit connect?
Cortex > Striatum > Thalamus
In normal individuals when the CSTC circuit is activated ________ signals from the PFC excite the Striatum which then leads to reduced ________ of the Thalamus (via GABA) and subsequent _________ of the PFC
Glutamatergic
Inhibition
Excitation
In OCD patients the thalamus is ______ leading to ________ of areas of the PFC and striatum
Hyperactive
Hyperactivation
What are the principal (suggested) neurotransmitter systems which play a part in OCD?
Serotonin
Dopamine
Glutamate
There is a greater ________ component in childhood onset forms of OCD where as __________ factors are more important for later-onset forms of OCD
Inherited
Environmental
What is the most common and effective form of treatment and how does it work to relieve symptoms of OCD?
CBT
Helps OCD individuals understand the inaccuracy of their obsessions and learn to different ways of dealing with them instead of compulsions
