Obsessive Compulsive Disorder

“A MINI PROJECT REPORT”
OF
PAPER-8 “Psychotherapy for Mental Disorders”
ON
TOPIC: OBSESSIVE COMPULSIVE DISORDER
Submitted for the partial fulfilment of the Degree of Masters in Psychotherapy
By:
Ms. Roshni Sondhi
Roll No.: IIH/048/PG/PTH/2009J
Second Year

THE GLOBAL OPEN UNIVERSITY NAGALAND

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Title page 1
Table of contents 2
Introduction 4
Features of obsessions and compulsions 5
The psychodynamic perspective 8
The behavioural perspective 9
The cognitive perspective 11
The biological perspective 12
Diagnosis and phenomenology of OCD 15
Symptom subtypes 18
Comorbidity, differential diagnosis and the obsessive compulsive spectrum disorders 21
Epidemiology 25
Biological contributions 27
Biochemistry and neuropharmacology 28
Neuropsychology 31
Neuroanatomy 33
A neurodevelopmental model of OCD 40
PANDAS 42
Cognitive contributions 44
Treatment based on cognitive theories 52
Conclusion 54
References 57

INTRODUCTION
The past two decades were characterized by enormous advancement in understanding the nature of mental illness. In particular, findings from basic neuroscience raised the possibility of eventually unravelling the pathophysiology of mental disorders. Similarly, cognitive theories have taken on increasing prominence in explanations for maladaptive psychological functioning.
With respect to the anxiety disorders in general, and obsessive compulsive disorder in particular, there has been a virtual explosion of research since the introduction of DSM-III in 1980; much of which is biological and cognitive.
Obsessions are persistent thoughts, ideas, impulses, or images that seem to invade a person 's consciousness. Compulsions are repetitive and rigid behaviours or mental acts that people feel they must perform in order to prevent or

References: THE BIOLOGICAL PERSPECTIVE Family pedigree studies provided the earliest hints that obsessive-compulsive disorder may be linked in part to biological factors (Lambert & Kinsley, 2005) 3. Biological Therapies Ever since researchers first discovered that certain antidepressant drugs help to reduce obsessions and compulsions, these drugs have been used to treat obsessive-compulsive disorder (Julien, 2008) DIAGNOSIS AND PHENOMENOLOGY OF OCD Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) is one of the most severe and chronic of the anxiety disorders delineated in the current psychiatric nomenclature (American Psychiatric Association [APA], 1994) Generally, patients try to suppress or ignore the thoughts, and diagnostic criteria require that patients realize that the obsessions are products of their own minds (APA, 1994). As such, compulsions can be conceptualized as escape or avoidance mechanisms, although it should be noted that not all conceptualizations of the disorder include a central role for anxiety (Antony, Downie, & Swinson, 1998). Economic costs of the disorder are also high due to inappropriate treatments, unemployment, absenteeism from work, and increased use of welfare or family support (Hollander et al., 1997; Steketee, Grayson, & Foa, 1987).