A Level Psychology OCD
Question and Answers.
what is OCD? Answer- - obsessive compulsive disorder
- affects ~1.2% of the population
- characterised by obsessions and compulsive behaviours
what are the cognitive characteristics of OCD? Answer- - obsessive thoughts: persistent and unpleasant
thoughts that vary per person, could include impulses to harm, contamination with dirt or that someone may
harm them
- insight into excessive anxiety: they understand their obssessions and compulsions are irrational but they
continue to experience catastrophic thoughts about what may happen if their anxieties were justified (worst
case scenario)
- hypervigilance: extremely aware of potential hazards
what are the emotional characteristics of OCD? Answer- - anxiety and distress: obsessive thoughts may cause
overwhelming anxiety, as well as the urge to repeat a compulsion to release that anxiety
- accompanying depression: the anxiety in OCD is often accompanied by a low mood and lack of enjoyment
what are the behavioural characteristics of OCD? Answer- - compulsive behaviour: compelled to repeat a
certain behaviour in order to manage anxiety produced by obsessions
- avoidance: avoiding situations that may trigger their anxiety, which may hinder them for functioning in
everyday life
what is the cycle of OCD? Answer- - obsessive thoughts -> anxiety -> compulsive behaviour -> temporary relief
, what are the features of monozygotic (MZ) twins that link to twin studies? Answer- - MZ twins share 100% of
the same genes
- one sperm and one egg fertilised, divided into two embryos at an early stage of pregnancy
what are the features of dizygotic (DZ) twins that link to twin studies? Answer- - DZ twins share ~50% of the
same genes, same as siblings
- two different sperms and two different eggs fertilised at the same time, creating two different embryos
why are twin studies important in psychology? Answer- - sinze MZ twins share 100% of their genes, if they
have a higher concordance rate for a disorder than DZ twins who share ~50% of their genes, this suggests the
cause is genetic
what are concordance rates? Answer- - a measure of similarity between two individuals to show the extent to
which they share the same characteristic
- usually a %
what is the genetic explanation for OCD? Answer- - OCD is inherited and individuals receive specific genes from
their parents which influence the onset of OCD
what are candidate genes and how do they link to OCD? Answer- - genes which create vulnerability for a
disorder
- the gene SERT regulates serotonin and lower levels of serotonin are found in OCD
- the gene COMT regulates dopamine levels and higher levels of dopamine are found in OCD
what does polygenic mean in relation to OCD? Answer- - several genes are involved in OCD
- Taylor (2013) performed a meta-analysis and found evidence that up to 230 genes may be involved in OCD
what does aetiologically heterogeneous mean in relation to OCD? Answer- - the origin (aetiology) of OCD has
different causes (heterogeneous)
- one group of genes may cause OCD in a person but another group of genes may cause OCD in another
Question and Answers.
what is OCD? Answer- - obsessive compulsive disorder
- affects ~1.2% of the population
- characterised by obsessions and compulsive behaviours
what are the cognitive characteristics of OCD? Answer- - obsessive thoughts: persistent and unpleasant
thoughts that vary per person, could include impulses to harm, contamination with dirt or that someone may
harm them
- insight into excessive anxiety: they understand their obssessions and compulsions are irrational but they
continue to experience catastrophic thoughts about what may happen if their anxieties were justified (worst
case scenario)
- hypervigilance: extremely aware of potential hazards
what are the emotional characteristics of OCD? Answer- - anxiety and distress: obsessive thoughts may cause
overwhelming anxiety, as well as the urge to repeat a compulsion to release that anxiety
- accompanying depression: the anxiety in OCD is often accompanied by a low mood and lack of enjoyment
what are the behavioural characteristics of OCD? Answer- - compulsive behaviour: compelled to repeat a
certain behaviour in order to manage anxiety produced by obsessions
- avoidance: avoiding situations that may trigger their anxiety, which may hinder them for functioning in
everyday life
what is the cycle of OCD? Answer- - obsessive thoughts -> anxiety -> compulsive behaviour -> temporary relief
, what are the features of monozygotic (MZ) twins that link to twin studies? Answer- - MZ twins share 100% of
the same genes
- one sperm and one egg fertilised, divided into two embryos at an early stage of pregnancy
what are the features of dizygotic (DZ) twins that link to twin studies? Answer- - DZ twins share ~50% of the
same genes, same as siblings
- two different sperms and two different eggs fertilised at the same time, creating two different embryos
why are twin studies important in psychology? Answer- - sinze MZ twins share 100% of their genes, if they
have a higher concordance rate for a disorder than DZ twins who share ~50% of their genes, this suggests the
cause is genetic
what are concordance rates? Answer- - a measure of similarity between two individuals to show the extent to
which they share the same characteristic
- usually a %
what is the genetic explanation for OCD? Answer- - OCD is inherited and individuals receive specific genes from
their parents which influence the onset of OCD
what are candidate genes and how do they link to OCD? Answer- - genes which create vulnerability for a
disorder
- the gene SERT regulates serotonin and lower levels of serotonin are found in OCD
- the gene COMT regulates dopamine levels and higher levels of dopamine are found in OCD
what does polygenic mean in relation to OCD? Answer- - several genes are involved in OCD
- Taylor (2013) performed a meta-analysis and found evidence that up to 230 genes may be involved in OCD
what does aetiologically heterogeneous mean in relation to OCD? Answer- - the origin (aetiology) of OCD has
different causes (heterogeneous)
- one group of genes may cause OCD in a person but another group of genes may cause OCD in another
