Step 4- Psycho-Education

Psycho-Education

https://www.restoredminds.com/5-Rules-For-Recovery

In this post I will discuss the importance of Psychoeducation. I can’t seem to stress the importance of this enough….and unfortunately I believe this is something that is often overlooked and undervalued by most people seeking help for OCD and Obsessive Thoughts. But I believe that Psychoeducation is extremely important for achieving success when it comes to breaking free from obsessive thoughts and compulsive behaviors.

You see Psychoeducation offers the base or foundation for your success. Once you can understand the different parts of your brain that are involved in the OCD cycle, you can really begin to see obsessions for what they really are…..just annoying thoughts that should be ignored.

So I would like to offer a short introduction to psychoeducation when it comes to OCD, but additionally I want to offer you resources you can use to conduct your own research.I know everyone learns at their own pace so it is very important that you can take it upon yourself further your education and really take responsibility for laying your own educational foundation for overcoming obsessive thoughts.

OCD and the Brain (in a nutshell)

Here are some quick facts –

Obsessive-compulsive disorder has been found to be connected to specific areas of the brain. This was shown through an extensive body of research that suggests OCD was connected with neurological issues and problems with neurotransmitters. OCD has also been linked to a dysfunction in the basal ganglia, amygdala, and the prefrontal cortex. The neurotransmitter serotonin and the hormone vasopressine were also found to be connected with OCD (NAMI, 2014).

It has been shown that OCD is linked to insufficient levels of serotonin, a neurtotransmitter involved in regulation of mood, aggression, impulse control, sleep, appetite, body temperature and pain. OCD medication is meant to increase serotonin levels (CAMH, 2014).

The first region of the brain connected with OCD is the caudate nucleus, which is a specific section within the basal ganglia. This area of the brain is thought to act as a filter for thoughts that come from other areas of the brain. It also manages habitual and repetitive behavior. Brain imaging results have shown that after receiving treatment for OCD, the activity in this area of the brain decreases (CAMH, 2014).

The second region of the brain involved in OCD is the Prefrontal Orbital Cortex. This section of the brain help regulate appropriate social behaviors. When there is a lower level of activity in this area of the brain it is linked to lowered inhibition and a lack of guilt, however increased activity causes increased worry about social concerns, such as being neat and meticulous, preoccupied with cleanliness, and having an increased fear of acting inappropriately. These are very common traits in cases of OCD (CAMH, 2014).

A third region of the brain that is involved in OCD is the Cingulate Gyrus. This region contributes to the emotional response that appears when people experience obsessive thoughts. This area of the brain contributes to people acting on compulsive behaviors that are intended to relieve the anxiety that comes with the obsessions. This region is also connected to the other two previous regions by several pathways (CAMH, 2014).

All three of these regions of the brain are also affected by serotonin levels. And it has been shown that raising the levels of serotonin has a positive effect on the activity in these three areas of the brain (CAMH, 2014).

A final area that of the brain that has shown to be overactive in people with OCD is the Amygdala. The Amygdala is the section of the brain closely associated with the “fight or flight” response. When it comes to OCD, the Amygdala seems to be triggering this “danger response” in situations that do not actually demand this type of reaction, which creates a false sense of threat in the mind of the sufferer.

The Interaction Explained

The low levels of serotonin affect the functioning of  specific brain regions associated with OCD including: the caudate nucleus in the basal ganglia, the prefrontal orbital cortex, the cingulate gyrus, and the amygdala. The prefrontal orbital cortex has an increased functioning due to this deficit. This causes an higher level of worry with social concerns. So when inappropriate obsessive thoughts occur there is increased sensitivity to them, and this increased sensitivity creates an over action within the amygdala. The amygdala then sets off false alarms causing the sufferer to believe these obsessive thoughts pose a serious potential threat.

When the brain senses a potential threat the cingulate gyrus begins to motivate the person to engage in behaviors that will allievate the threat. But when it comes to OCD…there is no real threat. So simply relieving the anxiety is enough to neutralize the automatic fearful response. This leads the person to engage in compulsive behaviors that they have learned help neutralize their anxiety. The compulsive behaviors temporarily alleviate the anxiety until the next obsessive thought enters the person’s mind….and the cycle repeats.

In short, the OCD cycle can be summarized in the following key points:

1. Obsessive thoughts cause an over-reaction in a person with OCD

2. This over-reaction causes the person to experience different uncomfortable feelings (i.e. anxiety, guilt, disgust)

3. These uncomfortable feelings motivate a person to engage in compulsive behaviors that help neutralize the discomfort

4. Engaging in compulsive behaviors reinforces the idea that the obsessive thoughts should be feared and taken at face value…which causes more obsessive thoughts to flood the person’s mind.

So in conclusion, with OCD it appears that there is not an appropriate communication between the frontal part of the brain and the deeper parts of the brain. This lack of appropriate communication causes the person to develop responses (compulsive behaviors) that do not effectively neutralize obsessive thoughts in the long term. (CAMH, 2014).

References

1. CAMH. (2014). What Causes OCD? Retrieved December 12 2014

2. NAMI. (2014). OCD. Retrieved December 12 2014 from http://www.nami.org/Template.cfm?Section=By_Illness&Template=/ContentManagement/ContentDisplay.cfm&ContentID=142546

3. OCD-UK. (2014). What Causes OCD?Retreived December 12 2014 from http://www.ocduk.org/what-causes-ocd