Intro to Psychology
🥸intro to psychology review
15.5 Obsessive-Compulsive and Related Disorders
Last Updated on June 25, 2024
Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD) is a complex mental health condition characterized by intrusive thoughts and repetitive behaviors. It's not just about being tidy or organized—OCD can significantly disrupt daily life, causing distress and impairment in various areas of functioning.
Research suggests that OCD stems from a combination of genetic and environmental factors. Brain imaging studies have revealed abnormalities in specific neural circuits, particularly those involving the orbitofrontal cortex and striatum. Understanding these underlying mechanisms is crucial for developing effective treatments.
Obsessive-Compulsive and Related Disorders
Core Features of OCD
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- Obsessions and/or compulsions
- Obsessions are recurrent, persistent thoughts, urges, or images experienced as intrusive and unwanted, often revolving around themes like contamination, symmetry, aggression, and taboo thoughts
- Compulsions are repetitive behaviors or mental acts an individual feels compelled to perform in response to obsessions or according to rigid rules, aimed at preventing or reducing anxiety, distress, or a feared event or situation
- Obsessions and compulsions are time-consuming (over 1 hour daily) or cause significant distress or impairment in social, occupational, or other functional areas
- Symptoms are not better explained by another mental disorder (depression) or medical condition (epilepsy)
Body Dysmorphic Disorder and Hoarding Disorder
- Body dysmorphic disorder (BDD)
- Preoccupation with one or more perceived defects or flaws in physical appearance not observable or appearing slight to others, leading to repetitive behaviors (mirror checking, excessive grooming) or mental acts (comparing appearance to others) in response to appearance concerns
- Preoccupation causes significant distress or impairment in social, occupational, or other functional areas
- Hoarding disorder
- Persistent difficulty discarding or parting with possessions regardless of actual value due to a perceived need to save items and distress associated with discarding them
- Accumulation of possessions congests and clutters active living areas, substantially compromising their intended use and causing significant distress or impairment in social, occupational, or other functional areas
Potential Causes and Brain Regions in OCD
- Genetic factors
- Twin and family studies suggest a genetic component, with specific genes involved in serotonin (5-HTTLPR) and glutamate (SLC1A1) neurotransmission implicated
- Environmental factors
- Stressful life events, particularly in childhood, and certain parenting styles (overprotection, excessive criticism) may contribute to OCD development
- Brain regions and neurotransmitters
- Abnormalities in cortico-striato-thalamo-cortical (CSTC) circuits, involving the orbitofrontal cortex, anterior cingulate cortex, and striatum (caudate nucleus, putamen), are thought to underlie OCD symptoms
- Imbalances in serotonin and glutamate neurotransmission within these circuits may contribute to OCD
- Neuroimaging studies show hyperactivity in CSTC circuits during symptom provocation and at rest in individuals with OCD
Key Terms to Review (20)
Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy: Cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) is a type of psychotherapy that focuses on the interplay between an individual's thoughts, behaviors, and emotions. It aims to help people identify and change negative or maladaptive thought patterns and behaviors to improve their overall mental health and well-being.
SSRIs: SSRIs, or Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors, are a class of medications primarily used to treat depression and other mental health disorders. They work by inhibiting the reuptake or reabsorption of the neurotransmitter serotonin in the brain, leading to an increase in serotonin levels and improved mood and emotional regulation.
Insight: Insight refers to the sudden understanding or realization of the core of a problem or situation. It involves the ability to see the heart of an issue and grasp the underlying connections or solutions, often in a creative or intuitive way.
OCD: OCD, or Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder, is a mental health condition characterized by intrusive thoughts, obsessions, and repetitive behaviors or compulsions that a person feels driven to perform in an attempt to alleviate anxiety or distress. This term is closely related to the topics of diagnosing and classifying psychological disorders, as well as obsessive-compulsive and related disorders.
Comorbidity: Comorbidity refers to the presence of two or more medical conditions or disorders that occur simultaneously in an individual. It is a concept that is particularly relevant in the context of psychological disorders, as individuals with one mental health condition often experience the co-occurrence of additional disorders or issues.
Intrusive Thoughts: Intrusive thoughts are unwanted, persistent mental images or ideas that can be distressing and disruptive. They are commonly associated with obsessive-compulsive and related disorders, where individuals experience intrusive thoughts that they are unable to control or dismiss.
Exposure and Response Prevention: Exposure and response prevention (ERP) is a type of cognitive-behavioral therapy used to treat obsessive-compulsive and related disorders. It involves gradually exposing the individual to the source of their obsessions while preventing them from engaging in the compulsive behaviors that provide temporary relief, with the goal of reducing the power of the obsessions and compulsions over time.
Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder: Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD) is a mental health condition characterized by intrusive thoughts, obsessions, and repetitive behaviors or compulsions that an individual feels driven to perform in order to alleviate anxiety or distress. It is a disorder that can significantly impact an individual's daily life and functioning.
Body Dysmorphic Disorder (BDD): Body Dysmorphic Disorder (BDD) is a mental health condition characterized by an obsessive preoccupation with a perceived flaw or defect in one's physical appearance, which causes significant distress and impairment in daily life. Individuals with BDD become excessively focused on minor or imagined imperfections, leading to compulsive behaviors and avoidance of social situations.
Obsessions: Obsessions are persistent and intrusive thoughts, images, or urges that an individual experiences, often causing significant distress and anxiety. They are a core feature of obsessive-compulsive and related disorders, where individuals feel compelled to engage in repetitive behaviors or mental acts in an attempt to alleviate the discomfort associated with these unwanted thoughts.
PANDAS: PANDAS, or Pediatric Autoimmune Neuropsychiatric Disorders Associated with Streptococcal Infections, is a condition where a child's immune system reacts to a streptococcal (strep) infection, leading to the sudden onset of neuropsychiatric symptoms. This term is particularly relevant in the context of Obsessive-Compulsive and Related Disorders, as PANDAS can be a trigger for the development or exacerbation of these types of disorders in children.
Trichotillomania: Trichotillomania is a mental health disorder characterized by a recurrent, irresistible urge to pull out one's own hair, resulting in noticeable hair loss. It is classified as an obsessive-compulsive and related disorder, as individuals with this condition often experience intrusive thoughts and engage in repetitive hair-pulling behaviors to alleviate distress or anxiety.
Fluoxetine: Fluoxetine is a selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI) medication primarily used to treat conditions such as depression, obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), and other mental health disorders. It works by increasing the availability of the neurotransmitter serotonin in the brain, which can help alleviate symptoms associated with these conditions.
Paroxetine: Paroxetine is a selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI) medication primarily used to treat obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), depression, anxiety disorders, and other mental health conditions. It works by increasing the availability of the neurotransmitter serotonin in the brain, which can help regulate mood and reduce symptoms associated with these disorders.
Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors (SSRIs): Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) are a class of medications primarily used to treat depression, anxiety disorders, and other mental health conditions. These drugs work by selectively blocking the reuptake, or reabsorption, of the neurotransmitter serotonin in the brain, leading to an increase in its availability and ultimately improving mood and reducing symptoms associated with various psychological disorders.
Hoarding Disorder: Hoarding disorder is a persistent difficulty discarding or parting with possessions, regardless of their actual value. It is characterized by an excessive accumulation of items, leading to cluttered living spaces and significant distress or impairment in daily functioning. Hoarding disorder is considered an obsessive-compulsive and related disorder, as it involves intrusive thoughts, compulsive behaviors, and difficulty controlling impulses.
Body Dysmorphic Disorder: Body Dysmorphic Disorder (BDD) is a mental health condition characterized by an obsessive preoccupation with a perceived flaw or defect in one's physical appearance, which causes significant distress and impairment in daily life. Individuals with BDD often engage in repetitive behaviors, such as mirror checking or excessive grooming, in an attempt to address their perceived flaws.
Compulsions: Compulsions are repetitive behaviors or mental acts that a person feels driven to perform in order to reduce anxiety or prevent a dreaded event. They are a core feature of obsessive-compulsive and related disorders, which involve intrusive thoughts (obsessions) and the urge to engage in behaviors (compulsions) to alleviate the distress caused by those thoughts.
Excoriation Disorder: Excoriation disorder, also known as dermatillomania or chronic skin-picking, is a mental health condition characterized by the recurrent and compulsive urge to pick, scratch, or manipulate one's own skin, often resulting in significant tissue damage and impairment in daily functioning. This disorder is classified under the obsessive-compulsive and related disorders category in the field of psychology.
Ego-dystonic: Ego-dystonic refers to thoughts, behaviors, or impulses that are in conflict with an individual's self-image or personal values. These experiences are perceived as unwanted, intrusive, and at odds with one's sense of self, often causing distress and a desire to change or eliminate them.