Causation
The cause of OCD is likely a…
Contribution of a combination of factors, such as anxiety.
As of 2025, what percentage of Australians with experience OCD in their lifetime?
3%
Is OCD just being organised and clean?
No, many people with OCD have symptoms that are not related to cleanliness or being tidy, and rather than OCD being the need to be organised, there are biological responses that make those with OCD feel wrong if they do not do a certain behaviour.
What is considered the gold-standard psychological treatment for OCD?
Exposure and Response Prevention (ERP).
Hundreds of years ago, OCD was commonly believed to be caused by what three things?
Demonic possession, weak morals, or a lack of faith.
What is the percentage of children with OCD whose parents also have the disorder?
10-20%
What is the global average for how long individuals wait to receive a diagnosis?
7-17 years
Are people with OCD the only ones who have intrusive thoughts?
No, the general population also may experience intrusive thoughts but rather than obsessing over them to a point of causing themselves distress like a person with OCD would, they may dismiss their intrusive thoughts.
What are the two main parts of ERP?
Exposure and response prevention.
Which psychologist suggested OCD was caused by unconscious childhood conflicts?
Sigmund Freud.
Name 2 risk factors
Stressful or traumatic life events, pre-existence of mental disorders relating to OCD, environmental influences, family history
What is one of the main age brackets where OCD symptoms first appear?
A: 7-12 years OR late adolescence to young adulthood around 20 years
Do those with OCD who perform compulsions find them relaxing or pleasurable to do?
No, Compulsions are often time consuming and may cause further distress by fuelling the need to act upon obsessions, and are only performed to alleviate any temporary distress from obsessions.
What does the brain learn when someone repeatedly resists performing a compulsion during ERP?
That they don’t need the compulsion to stay safe (or that the feared outcome usually doesn’t happen).
According to modern research, OCD develops through a combination of what four factors?
Neurological, genetic, cognitive, and environmental factors.
What do studies relating to Brain Changes not clarify?
Whether the changes are cause OCD or are caused by OCD?
Symptoms of OCD will tend to get worse during…
Periods of greater stress AND major life changes
How does OCD differ from simply having anxiety?
OCD is characterised by intrusive and distressing obsessions and compulsions that are to be repeated, whereas anxiety generally is the process of worrying about anything and not exactly having fixations that must be alleviated under certain circumstances.
What is the name of the learning process that explains why ERP becomes effective over time?
Inhibitory learning.
What brain circuit was identified as functioning differently in people with OCD?
The cortico-striato-thalamo-cortical (CSTC) circuit.
PANDAS/PANS may potentially be a cause of OCD as it lead to…
Rapid, overnight development of symptoms that can severely impact the patient's life.
What is the range of seriousness for symptoms?
Mild, Moderate to Severe, time-consuming and potentially disabling
A common misconception is that ERP is designed to stop intrusive thoughts from external exposure to the things that trigger their obsessions. What does ERP really do?
ERP uses inhibitory learning to reduce the anxiety of not proceeding with compulsions and ultimately makes thoughts less frequent, less intense and less upsetting.
Why are SSRIs often used alongside ERP rather than as a replacement for it?
SSRIs increase serotonin activity, helping reduce obsessive thoughts and compulsive urges, making it easier for people to fully engage in ERP and manage their symptoms.
How did advances in science change the way OCD is understood and treated?
Scientists discovered the neurological basis of OCD through brain imaging and genetic research, leading to evidence-based treatments like ERP and SSRIs and recognising OCD as a real, treatable medical condition rather than a personal failing.