PSYC FPX 3110 Assessment 4 Applying the DSM Obsessive Compulsive Disorder

Assessment 4 Applying the DSM Obsessive Compulsive Disorder

Name

Capella university

PSYC FPX 3110 Abnormal Psychology

Prof. Name

Date

Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD)

OCD, a prevalent mental disorder, manifests through both obsessions and compulsions aimed at alleviating the distress caused by obsessions (National Institute of Mental Health [NIMH], 2017). Obsessions are persistent, intrusive thoughts that are often irrational and distressing, while compulsions are repetitive behaviors or mental acts performed to neutralize the anxiety generated by obsessions (American Psychiatric Association [APA], 2013).

Statistics

According to the National Institute of Mental Health (2017), OCD affects approximately 1.2% of adults in the U.S. and 1 in 100 children. It exhibits a higher prevalence in females and typically emerges during adolescence, with an average age of onset around 19.5 years. Most cases begin before the age of 35, and onset after this age is uncommon (NIMH, 2017).

Famous People Diagnosed with OCD

Several well-known individuals have openly discussed their struggles with OCD, including Howie Mandel, Megan Fox, Billy Bob Thornton, and Jennifer Love Hewitt.

The History of OCD

Historically, OCD was associated with religious melancholy in the 17th century, gradually transitioning to medical explanations by the 19th century. In the 20th century, psychological explanations gained prominence, leading to the classification of OCD as an anxiety disorder in the DSM-IV in 1994. Subsequent revisions in the DSM-V introduced significant changes to the classification of OCD and related disorders (Stanford Medicine, n.d.).

Theories: What Causes OCD?

Biological Perspective

Biological factors contributing to OCD include genetic vulnerabilities, brain dysfunction or neural plasticity, and abnormalities in neurotransmitters or hormones (Atmaca et al., 2007; Browne et al., 2014).

Psychological Perspective

Psychological theories propose that OCD may result from learned behaviors, particularly avoidance learning, and dysfunctional beliefs or appraisals, as outlined in the cognitive-behavioral model (Barrera & Norton, 2011; Abramowitz et al., 2018).

Changes in Diagnosis

In the DSM-IV, OCD was categorized under anxiety disorders, requiring patients to recognize the irrationality of their obsessions or compulsions. However, the DSM-V reclassified OCD under obsessive-compulsive and related disorders, emphasizing the presence of obsessions, compulsions, or both, without the necessity of insight into their irrationality (APA, 2013).

Advances in Treatment of OCD

Effective treatments for OCD include Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Exposure and Response Prevention (ERP), Telehealth CBT, and Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors (SSRIs) (Hezel & Simpson, 2019; Hooley et al., 2019).

What Led to Changes in the DSM?

Revisions in the DSM aimed to align diagnoses based on shared symptoms, comorbidity, onset, progression, risk factors, and treatment response, reflecting a more nuanced understanding of psychiatric disorders (Leckman et al., 2010; Stein et al., 2010).

Support for Change in Treatment

ERP, a cornerstone of OCD treatment, has shown significant efficacy, with two-thirds of patients experiencing improvement and one-third achieving complete recovery. Patients often prefer ERP over medication, as it improves quality of life and eliminates the need for long-term pharmacotherapy (Hezel & Simpson, 2019).

Conclusion

The reclassification of OCD in the DSM has facilitated more accurate diagnosis and treatment, contributing to its status as a highly treatable disorder. Looking ahead, ongoing research and advancements in treatment modalities offer hope for further improvements in the management of OCD.

References

Abramowitz, J. S., Blakey, S. M., Reuman, L., & Buchholz, J. L. (2018). New directions in the cognitive-behavioral treatment of OCD: Theory, research, and practice. Behavior Therapy, 49(3), 311-322. Atmaca, M., Yildirim, H., Ozdemir, H., Tezcan, E., & Poyraz, A. K. (2007). Volumetric MRI study of key brain regions implicated in obsessive–compulsive disorder. Progress in neuro-psychopharmacology and Biological Psychiatry, 31(1), 46-52.

PSYC FPX 3110 Assessment 4 Applying the DSM Obsessive Compulsive Disorder

Barrera, T. L., & Norton, P. J. (2011). The appraisal of intrusive thoughts in relation to obsessional-compulsive symptoms. Cognitive Behaviour Therapy, 40(2), 98-110. doi:10.1080/16506073.2010.545072 Browne, H. A., Gair, S. L., Scharf, J. M., & Grice, D. E. (2014). Genetics of obsessive-compulsive disorder and related disorders. The Psychiatric clinics of North America, 37(3), 319–335. Hezel, D. M., & Simpson, H. B. (2019). Exposure and response prevention for obsessive-compulsive disorder: A review and new directions. Indian journal of psychiatry, 61(Suppl 1), S85–S92. Lack, C. W. (2012). Obsessive-compulsive disorder: Evidence-based treatments and future directions for research. World journal of psychiatry, 2(6), 86–90.

PSYC FPX 3110 Assessment 4 Applying the DSM Obsessive Compulsive Disorder

Stein, D. J., Fineberg, N. A., Bienvenu, O. J., Denys, D., Lochner, C., Nestadt, G., Leckman, J. F., Rauch, S. L., & Phillips, K. A. (2010). Should OCD be classified as an anxiety disorder in DSM-V? Depression & Anxiety (1091-4269), 27(6), 495–506.

ADDITIONAL INSTRUCTIONS FOR THE CLASS –  PSYC FPX 3110 Assessment 4 Applying the DSM Obsessive Compulsive Disorder

SCORE A+ WITH HELP FROM OUR PROFESSIONAL WRITERS – PSYC FPX 3110 Assessment 4 Applying the DSM Obsessive Compulsive Disorder

We will process your orders through multiple stages and checks to ensure that what we are delivering to you, in the end, is something that is precise as you envisioned it. All of our essay writing service products are 100% original, ensuring that there is no plagiarism in them. The sources are well-researched and cited so it is interesting. Our goal is to help as many students as possible with their assignments, i.e. our prices are affordable and services premium.

• Discussion Questions (DQ)

Initial responses to the DQ should address all components of the questions asked, including a minimum of one scholarly source, and be at least 250 words. Successful responses are substantive (i.e., add something new to the discussion, engage others in the discussion, well-developed idea) and include at least one scholarly source. One or two-sentence responses, simple statements of agreement or “good post,” and responses that are off-topic will not count as substantive. Substantive responses should be at least 150 words. I encourage you to incorporate the readings from the week (as applicable) into your responses.

• Weekly Participation

Your initial responses to the mandatory DQ do not count toward participation and are graded separately. In addition to the DQ responses, you must post at least one reply to peers (or me) on three separate days, for a total of three replies. Participation posts do not require a scholarly source/citation (unless you cite someone else’s work). Part of your weekly participation includes viewing the weekly announcement and attesting to watching it in the comments. These announcements are made to ensure you understand everything that is due during the week.

• APA Format and Writing Quality

Familiarize yourself with the APA format and practice using it correctly. It is used for most writing assignments for your degree. Visit the Writing Center in the Student Success Center, under the Resources tab in Loud-cloud for APA paper templates, citation examples, tips, etc. Points will be deducted for poor use of APA format or absence of APA format (if required). Cite all sources of information! When in doubt, cite the source. Paraphrasing also requires a citation. I highly recommend using the APA Publication Manual, 6th edition.

• Use of Direct Quotes

I discourage over-utilization of direct quotes in DQs and assignments at the Master’s level and deduct points accordingly. As Masters’ level students, it is important that you be able to critically analyze and interpret information from journal articles and other resources. Simply restating someone else’s words does not demonstrate an understanding of the content or critical analysis of the content. It is best to paraphrase content and cite your source. PSYC FPX 3110 Assessment 4 Applying the DSM Obsessive Compulsive Disorder

• LopesWrite Policy

For assignments that need to be submitted to Lopes Write, please be sure you have received your report and Similarity Index (SI) percentage BEFORE you do a “final submit” to me. Once you have received your report, please review it. This report will show you grammatical, punctuation, and spelling errors that can easily be fixed. Take the extra few minutes to review instead of getting counted off for these mistakes. Review your similarities. Did you forget to cite something? Did you not paraphrase well enough? Is your paper made up of someone else’s thoughts more than your own? Visit the Writing Center in the Student Success Center, under the Resources tab in Loud-cloud for tips on improving your paper and SI score.

• Late Policy

The university’s policy on late assignments is a 10% penalty PER DAY LATE. This also applies to late DQ replies. Please communicate with me if you anticipate having to submit an assignment late. I am happy to be flexible, with advance notice. We may be able to work out an extension based on extenuating circumstances. If you do not communicate with me before submitting an assignment late, the GCU late policy will be in effect. I do not accept assignments that are two or more weeks late unless we have worked out an extension. As per policy, no assignments are accepted after the last day of class. Any assignment submitted after midnight on the last day of class will not be accepted for grading. PSYC FPX 3110 Assessment 4 Applying the DSM Obsessive Compulsive Disorder

• Communication

Communication is so very important. There are multiple ways to communicate with me: Questions to Instructor Forum: This is a great place to ask course content or assignment questions. If you have a question, there is a good chance one of your peers does as well. This is a public forum for the class. Individual Forum: This is a private forum to ask me questions or send me messages. This will be checked at least once every 24 hours.

We will process your orders through multiple stages and checks to ensure that what we are delivering to you, in the end, is something that is precise as you envisioned it. All of our essay writing service products are 100% original, ensuring that there is no plagiarism in them. The sources are well-researched and cited so it is interesting. Our goal is to help as many students as possible with their assignments, i.e. our prices are affordable and services premium. Looking for a Similar Assignment? Order a custom-written, plagiarism-free paper