This document provides information about obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD). It discusses the prevalence of OCD, noting it has a lifetime prevalence of 1.6% and typically has an onset in late adolescence/early adulthood. It is usually chronic and equally affects both genders. The document also examines the pathology of OCD, including increased activity in brain regions like the basal ganglia, orbitofrontal cortex, and thalamus. Signs and symptoms include obsessions, compulsions, and repetitive behaviors. Treatments discussed are cognitive behavioral therapy, pharmacotherapy using SSRIs, and psychosurgery for severe cases.

1. OBSESSIVE-COMPULSIVE
DISORDER (OCD)
JIM BOYCE
ALEJANDRO OLGUIN
BRYANNA HUTCHINS
COURTNEY OHMAN

2. PREVALENCE
• 1.6% lifetime prevalence
• Onset in late adolescence/early adulthood
• Usually chronic
• Equal between genders
• High comorbity with depression (70%
lifetime prevalence with OCD

3. PATHOLOGY
• Increased metabolic activity in the basal ganglia
• PET scans have strongly implicated involvement of the orbito-frontal
cortex, the caudate nucleus, and the thalamus
• Primitive cleaning and checking behaviors are “hard-wired” in the
thalamus
• Most OCD cases represent an abnormality of serotonergic functioning
in the fronto-striatal-thalamo-cortical circuit

4. PATHOLOGY (CONTINUED)
• Increased activity in the head of the caudate nucleus inhibits
Globus pallidus fibers that ordinarily dampen thalamic activity
• This resulting increase in the thalamic activity produces increased
activity in the orbitofrontal cortex
• This completes the circuit, via the cingulate gryus, the caudate and
produces increased activity in the head of the caudate

5. SIGNS & SYMPTOMS
People with OCD may experience;
• Obsessions of contamination
• Repeatedly thoughts and images
• Irrational fear of injury or diseases
• Inappropriate sexual thoughts
• Shaking, nail-biting, plucking hairs, and other repetitive movements
• All of these intervene with daily activities and affect overall happiness

6. NEUROPSYCHOLOGICAL DEFICITS
These deficits affect the frontal-striatal functioning, especially
in the orbitofrontal-striatal circuitry causing;
• Impairment of executive functioning.
• Visual memory and motor speed.
• Poor organization skills and poor non-verbal skills.
• Lack of proper performance in set-shifting, alternation, and
response inhibition.

7. TREATMENTS
• Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)
• CBT is a psychological treatment based on one’s symptoms, treatment
procedures, and a specified outcome
• Helps construct cognitive abilities
• Helps reduce the level of anxiety which lead to acts of obsession.
• Pharmacotherapy
• Treatment using drugs, especially SSRI’s that inhibit the uptake of serotonin
after released in the synapses
• Messages are being transmitted between two nerve cells from a chemical
synapse which creates a small gap. The presynaptic cell sends information
releasing into the neurotransmitters. Serotonin is filled by these gaps.
• SSRI Drugs used include Clomipramine, Fluoxetine, Sertraline, & Fluvoxamine

8. TREATMENTS (CONTINUED)
• Psychosurgery
• Used only in severe cases
• Used if patients fail to respond to
medication and therapy
• Surgical techniques are singulotomy
and leucotomy
• 25-30% of patients benefit from surgery