What+Causes+Obsessive+Compulsive+Disorder?


 * ======Behavioural Theory ======
 * ======Cognitive Theory ======


 * ======Regulating of Brain Chemistry ======
 * ======Changes in Brain Chemistry ======
 * ======Streptococcus and OCD ======

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Many psychological theories have been introduced to explain the development of OCD. The two that have received the greatest support are the behavioural and cognitive theories. (Rector, 2001)======

**Behavioural Theory**

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People with OCD link certain objects or situations with fear, in that they learn to avoid the things they fear or perform rituals that help to reduce that help to reduce the fear. (Center for Addictions and Mental Health, 2011) ======

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When people are under periods of high emotional stress such as starting a new job or ending a relationship, the pattern of fear and avoidance may occur. At this stage people are more vulnerable to fear, often things once regarded as "neutral" may begin to bring on feelings of fear. For example, a person who has always been able to use public toilets may, when under stress, make a connection between the toilet seat and a fear of catching an illness. Once there is a connection between an object and the feeling of fear is established, people with OCD avoid the things they fear, rather than confront or tolerate the fear. For instance, the person who fears catching an illness from public toilets will avoid using them. When forced to use a public toilet, he or she will perform elaborate cleaning rituals, such as cleaning the toilet seat, cleaning the door handles of the cubicle or following a detailed washing procedure. Because these actions temporarily reduce the level of fear, the fear is never challenged and dealt with and the behaviour is reinforced. The association of fear may spread to other objects, such as public sinks and showers. (Centre for Addictions and Mental Health, 2011) ======

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'In behavioural therapy, people with OCD learn to confront and reduce their anxiety without practicing avoidance or ritual behaviour. When they learn to directly confront their fears, they become less afraid'. (Centre for Addictions and Mental Health, 2011 )======

**Cognitive Theory** 'This theory focuses on how people with OCD misinterpret their thoughts.' (Centre for Addictions and Mental Health, 2011 )

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There are people with intrusive and uninvited thoughts which are similar to those of people reported with OCD. For example, parents under stress from caring for an infant may have an intrusive thought of harming the infant. Most people would be able to ignore such thought but persons who are liable in developing OCD, however, might exaggerate the importance of the thought, and respond as though it represents an actual threat. They may think, "I must be a danger to children if I have thoughts of harming children." This can cause a high level of anxiety and other negative emotions, such as shame, guilt and disgust. (Centre for Addictions and Mental Health, 2011) ======

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The cognitive theory states that people with OCD will continue to be distress and practice avoidance and/ or rituals as long as they believe that the intrusive thoughts are disastrous. (Center for Addictions and Mental Health, 2011) ======

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According to cognitive theory, people who attach exaggerated danger to their thoughts do so because of false beliefs learned earlier in life. Researchers think the following beliefs may be important in the development and maintenance of obsessions: ======
 * ======"Exaggerated responsibility," or the belief that one is responsible for preventing misfortunes or harm to others ======
 * ======<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 120%;">The belief that certain thoughts are very important and should be controlled ======
 * ======<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 120%;">The belief that somehow having a thought or an urge to do something will increase the chances that it will come true ======
 * ======<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 120%;">The tendency to overestimate the likelihood of danger ======

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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 120%;">The belief that one should always be perfect and that mistakes are unacceptable. (Center for Addictions and Mental Health, 2011) ======

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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 120%;">Research has revealed a connection between obsessive-compulsive disorder and insufficient levels of the brain chemical, serotonin. Serotonin is one of the brain's chemical messengers that transmit signals between brain cells. Serotonin regulates mood, sleep,aggression, impulse,pain, appetite and body temperature. Serotonin level is raised by all the medications that are used to treat OCD. (Center for Addictions and Menatl Health, 2011) ======

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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 120%;">With modern brain imaging techniques researchers were able to study the activity of specific areas of the brain. Such studies have shown that people with OCD have more than usual activity in three areas of the brain. (Center for Addictions and Mental Health, 2011) ======

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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 120%;">The caudate nucleus acts as a filter for thoughts coming in from other areas of the brain; it also manages habitual and repetitive behaviours. When OCD is successfully treated with drugs or therapy, the activity in this area of the brain usually decreases. This shows that both drugs and a change in "thinking" can alter the physical functioning of the brain. (Center for Addictions and Mental Health, 2011) ======

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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 120%;">The level of activity in the prefrontal orbital cortex is believed to affect appropriate social behaviour. Lowered activity or damage in this region is linked to feeling uninhibited, making bad judgments and feeling a lack of guilt. More activity may therefore cause more worry about social concerns. Such concerns include: being meticulous, neat and preoccupied with cleanliness, and being afraid of acting inappropriately. All of these concerns are symptoms of OCD. (Center for Addictions and Mental Health, 2011) ======

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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 120%;">The cingulate gyrus is believed to contribute the emotional response to obsessive thoughts. This area of the brain tells you to perform compulsions to relieve anxiety. This region is highly interconnected to the prefrontal orbital cortex and the basal ganglia via a number of brain cell pathways. The basal ganglia, the prefrontal orbital cortex and the cingulate gyrus all have many brain cells affected by serotonin. Researchers believe that medicines that raise the levels of serotonin available to transmit messages may change the level of activity in these areas of the brain. (Center for Addictions and Mental Health, 2011) ======

<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 120%;">**Streptococcus and OCD**
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 120%;">Some researchers believe that cases where children suddenly develop obsessive- compulsive disorder or tourette’s syndrome may be linked to a recent infection with streptococcus, the bacteria that cause the common "strep throat." In these cases, the body may be forming antibodies to the infection, which may mistakenly react to the basal ganglia, an area of the brain linked to obsessive-compulsive disorder. (Center for Addictions and Mental Health, 2011)

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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 120%;">There is no evidence; however, that streptococcus plays a role in the onset of OCD. And in most cases where children develop obsessive-compulsive disorder, the symptoms begin gradually, not suddenly as described above. At this time, then, the link between streptococcus infection and obsessive-compulsive disorder is not certain. Further research into this possible link may lead to a better understanding of the causes of obsessive-compulsive disorder. (Center for Addictions and Mental Health, 2011) ======

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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 120%;">Obsessive-compulsive disorder often seems to "run in the family." In fact, almost half of all cases show a familiar pattern. Research studies report that parents, siblings and children of a person with obsessive-compulsive disorder have a greater chance of developing OCD than does someone with no family history of the disorder. (Center for Addiction and Mental Health, 2001) ======

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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 120%;">Researchers looking for genes that might be linked to obsessive-compulsive disorder have not been able to find them. It is believed there may be genes, though, that are involved in regulating serotonin and passed on through the generations. One study involving identical twins showed that if one twin develops obsessive-compulsive disorder, the other is likely to follow, which suggests that the tendency to develop obsessions and compulsions may be genetic. Other studies have shown a relationship between OCD and Tourette's syndrome (TS). Families of individuals with tourette’s syndrome also seem to have high rates of obsessive-compulsive disorder, suggesting a genetic relationship between these two conditions. (Center for Addictions and Mental Health, 2011) ======