OCD and the Brain

Megan Kneipp

Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder
affects almost 3% of worlds population Start anytime from preschool to

adulthood
Typically

between 20-24

many different forms of OCD differ

from person to person cause of OCD is still unknown Better when diagnosed early

Definition
Specific criteria to be clinically diagnosed

Anxiety disorder with presence of obsessions

or compulsions ego dystonic realize thoughts and actions are irrational or excessive Must take up more than 1 hour a day Must disrupt daily routine Symptoms cant result from effects of other medical conditions or substances

Obsessions
repetitive and constants thoughts, images, or

impulses that cause anxiety or distress thoughts, images, or impulses not about reallife problems Try to ignore or counter act thoughts, images, or impulses thoughts, images, or impulses recognized as a product of ones own mind and not imposed from without

Compulsions
Repetitive behaviors or mental acts

person does in reaction to obsessions behaviors or mental acts done to avoid or decrease distress behaviors or mental acts are clearly excessive or not realistic

History
14th & 15th century thought people were

possessed by the devil and treated by exorcism 17th century thought people were cleansing their guilt 18th century finally considered medical issue 20th century began treating with behavioral techniques

Theories
Scientist split into 2 groups
Psychological

disorder where people are responsible for feelings they have Abnormalities in the brain

Causes
Serotonin is involved in regulating anxiety Abnormality in the neurotransmitter serotonin In order to send chemical messages serotonin must bind to the receptor sites located on the neighboring nerve cells OCD suffers may have blocked or damaged receptor sites preventing serotonin from functioning to full potential Possible genetic mutation Some people suffering have mutation in the human serotonin transporter gene

OCD and the Brain

PET scans show people with OCD have

different brain activity from others Another theory: miscommunication between the orbital frontal cortex, the caudate nucleus, and the thalamus

Caudate nucleus doesnt function properly and causes thalamus to become hyperactive and sends never-ending worry signals between OFC and thalamus OFC responds by increasing anxiety

PET scans indicate differences in brain activity of OCD patients versus normal

Comorbidity
Has excessive comorbidity with other diseases Common diseases: Depression, Schizophrenia,

Tourette Syndrome Depression is the most common

Many people with OCD suffered from depression first 2/3 of OCD patients develop depression makes OCD symptoms worse and more difficult to treat

People with OCD common diagnosed as

Schizophrenic hard to separate obsessions from delusions

Treatment
Only completely curable in rare cases

Most people have some symptom relief with

treatment Treatment choices depend on the problem and patients preferences Most common treatments:

Behavioral Therapy Cognitive Therapy Medication

Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy
Cognitive: change the way they think to deal with

their fears Behavioral: change the way they react to anxietyprovoking situations Exposure and Response Prevention Slowly learning to tolerate anxiety associated with not performing ritual behavior Psychotherapy Talking with therapist to discover what causes the anxiety and how to deal with symptoms Systematic Desensitization Learning cognitive strategies to deal with anxiety then gradual exposure to feared object

Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy
Should be done when people are ready for it Must be customized for each persons specific form

of OCD and their needs No side affects except increased anxiety with exposure to fear Often lasts about 12 weeks Positive effects off CBT last longer than those of medication If OCD returns can successfully treat again with same therapy Best treatment approach for most is CBT combined with medication

Medication
Anxiolytic benzodiazepine such as chloradiazepoxide or

diazepam give temporary relief from anxiety but not really effective on obsessions and compulsions Antidepressants because of common depression Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors (SSRIs): alter the levels of neurotransmitter serotonin in the brain which helps brain cells communicate with one another Prevents excess serotonin from being pumped back into original neuron that released it Then can bind to receptor sites of nearby neurons and send chemical message that can help regulate anxiety and obsessive compulsive thoughts Most effective drug treatment helping about 60% of patients Ex: Prozac, Zoloft, Lexapro, Paxil

Conclusion
OCD is a complicated issue Most cases are incurable Best form of treatment is CBT in combination

with medication Most important thing that can be done to discover more about OCD and its treatments is to research the brain