What is OCD and how can we treat it?

TL;DR

Exploring the diagnostic criteria, biological theories, cognitive theories, and treatment options for OCD.

Transcript

hi everyone welcome back and if you haven't been here before my name is ava and i'm a phd student from ucl so today i thought i'd talk about obsessive compulsive disorder so i'm going to briefly go through the diagnostic criteria for the disorder and then go through the psychological and biological theories that relate to it so this involves having... Read More

Key Insights

• 💭 OCD involves obsessions (thoughts) and compulsions (behaviors) causing distress.
• 🧠 Genetic factors and brain circuits are linked to OCD.
• ❓ Cognitive theories focus on distorted beliefs in OCD.
• ❓ CBT challenges beliefs in OCD treatment.
• 🏛️ Exposure Response Prevention (ERP) helps build tolerance to anxiety.
• ❓ Psychodynamic theories suggest unconscious conflicts in OCD.
• 🛄 Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) aims to increase psychological flexibility.

Questions & Answers

Q: What are obsessions and compulsions in OCD?

Obsessions are persistent unwanted thoughts while compulsions are repetitive behaviors that an individual feels driven to perform.

Q: How do genetic factors play a role in OCD?

Genetic research suggests a 25% likelihood of OCD if a family member has it, and identical twins have a 45-65% risk.

Q: What is the cognitive theory of OCD?

Cognitive theories suggest that distorted beliefs play a role in OCD, where individuals believe they should control their thoughts to prevent harm.

Q: What is Exposure Response Prevention (ERP)?

ERP is a therapy focusing on gradually exposing individuals to feared situations without engaging in compulsive behaviors to build tolerance to anxiety.

Summary & Key Takeaways

• OCD involves obsessions (persistent unwanted thoughts) and compulsions (repetitive behaviors).

• Biological theories suggest genetic and brain circuit involvement.

• Cognitive theories focus on distorted beliefs and CBT as a treatment approach.