Psychology

Final Year
Project
TOPIC: Obsessive-Compulsive
Disorder (OCD)

NAME: Fathima Noreen Siddeeque

CLASS:12 C
 Global Indian
International
School

This is to certify that

Mr./Ms.
of Class Roll No :
has completed his/her
Project Work/Lab Record for the
Year .

Date :

Teacher’s Signature HOD’S Signature

Principal’s Signature Examiner’s Signature

 Global Indian
International
School

I hereby declare
my Project completed.
First of all I am grateful to God for enabling
me to complete this project successfully.
I wish to express my sincere thanks to our
principal Mr. Dilip Kumar for his
encouragement throughout the year
I also thank ,
our teacher for all the support,
care and guidance he/she has provided us
for the completion of this project.
I take this opportunity to thank my family
members and all others who have directly or
indirectly aided me.
 Contents
1. Casestudy
2. Advantages
3. Disadvantages
4. Sources of data collection
4.1. Interview
4.2. Types of interview
4.3. Observation
4.4. Types
4.5. Data collection
4.6. Questionnaire
4.7. Types
4.8. Psychological test
4.9. Types
5. introduction
6. what is ocd
7. Signs and symptoms
8. Diaagnoses
9. Tests and assessments
10. How is ocd treated
11. Case study
12. Prognosis
13. biblography
 Case study
What is it??
A psychological case study is an in-depth
investigation of an individual, group, community, or
event and relies on a descriptive research approach.
Psychologists gather
information for a case study through psychometric
testing, interviews of the test subject, archival
research, direct observation, and carefully designed
experiments.
A case study typically explores psychological
processes, conditions, and behaviours.
 Case studies in psychology are essential
for several reasons:
1. First, a case study allows a researcher to
illustrate or test a specific theory.

2. Many psychologists use case studies as

exploratory research to develop treatments
and confirm diagnoses.

3.the data gathered provides empirical

research for others to study and expand on
their theories and hypotheses.

4.Case studies also generate new ideas, giving

researchers a way to brainstorm creatively in
a controlled environment.
 Advantages of case
studies
Case studies provide researchers with several
unique advantages, including:

1. They allow researchers to observe and record

information about rare, impractical, or unethical
conditions and behaviours

2. They provide researchers with new evidence to

support psychological theories.

3. They help researchers develop hypotheses that

others can study or add to in the future.

4. They offer researchers additional insights into the

phenomenon to gain a better understanding of the
behaviour or event.

5. They allow researchers to evaluate conditions or

behaviours in a real-world setting that may be
difficult to replicate in a laboratory environment.
Disadvantages of case
studies
Along with many positive effects of using
case studies, there are several disadvantages
to consider, including:
1. Case study results can be difficult to replicate.

2. Case studies can be expensive and time-

consuming.
3. Researchers can allow their feelings to
influence the case study, known as researcher
bias.

4. Case studies can lack scientific methods and

rigour to protect the accuracy of data collected.

5. Researchers can find the volume of data

difficult to
analyze and apply to a larger population.
 Sources of Data
Collection of a case
study.
Interview:
An interview is a structured conversation where one
person
(the interviewer) asks questions, and the other
person (the interviewee)
provides answers. Interviews are used for various
purposes, such as
gathering information, assessing someone's
qualifications for a job,
conducting research, or understanding someone's
experiences and
opinions.

THERE ARE 2 TYPES OF INTERVIEW

1. Structured and 2.Unstructed
 Structured Interviews:
1. Consistency: The same set of questions is
asked to every interviewee,
ensuring uniformity in the information
collected. This makes it easier to compare
responses across different individuals.

2. Efficiency: Structured interviews are

typically more time-efficient since the
questions are predetermined, and the
interview stays focused on specific topics.

3. Reliability: Due to the standardized format,

structured interviews tend to be more
reliable in terms of producing consistent
results. This is especially important in
situations like job interviews or research
studies where objective data is crucial.
 Unstructured Interviews:
1. Flexibility: The interviewer can adapt the
conversation based on the
interviewee's responses, allowing for a deeper
exploration of interesting
or unexpected topics that may arise.

2. Richness of Data: Unstructured interviews often

yield more detailed
and nuanced information, as the interviewee has the
freedom to
express thoughts and ideas in a less restricted
manner.

3. Rapport Building: The conversational nature of

unstructured
interviews can help build rapport between the
interviewer and
interviewee, leading to more candid and insightful
responses
4. Interviewing with someone who has Obsessive-
Compulsive Disorder (OCD)
requires an empathetic and supportive
approach. The goal is to gain insight
into the individual's symptoms, history, and
experiences while ensuring a safe,
non-judgmental environment.

Observation:
Observation is a research method where the
researcher watches, listens to, and records the
behaviors, actions, and interactions of people,
animals, or events in a specific setting or
environment.
It is often used in various fields such as
psychology, sociology, anthropology, education,
and market research to gather data and
insights.
Key Aspects of Observation:
1. Types of Observation:

○ Participant Observation: The observer actively

engages in the
environment or group being studied, often becoming a
part of
the community or activity.

○ Non-Participant Observation: The observer does not

interact
with the subjects and remains an outsider, simply
watching and
recording the events
.
○ Naturalistic Observation: The observation takes
place in a natural setting without any interference or
manipulation by the
observer.
 Controlled Observation: The observation
occurs in a structured
or controlled environment, where variables can
be manipulated
to see their effects

2. Data Collection:
○ Qualitative Data: Observations can provide
rich, detailed
descriptions of behaviours, interactions, and
settings, often in the
form of notes, audio, or video recordings.

○ Quantitative Data: Observations can also be

structured to collect
numerical data, such as the frequency or
duration of specific
behaviours, often using checklists or coding
systems.
When observing an individual with OCD, it's
essential to approach the
situation with respect and discretion.
Recognising that OCD is a mental
a health condition that can cause significant
distress, it's important to observe
with compassion and understanding, while also
respecting the person's
boundaries and privacy.

3.Questionnaire:
A questionnaire is a research tool consisting of a
series of questions designed
to gather information from respondents. It is
widely used in surveys, research
studies, evaluations, and various forms of data
collection to obtain
information on attitudes, opinions, behaviors,
and demographic
characteristics.
 Types of Questions:
1. Closed-Ended Questions:
Respondents choose from a set of
predefined options, such as multiple-choice, yes/no, or
Likert scale
questions. These questions are easier to analyze
statistically.
2. Open-Ended Questions:
Respondents provide their answers in their
own words, offering more detailed and qualitative
insights. These responses can be more challenging to
analyze but provide richer data.

3.Rating Scales: Respondents rate a statement or item on

a scale (e.g.,
from 1 to 5), which helps measure the intensity of their
opinions or attitudes.
The purpose of the questionnaire is to gather detailed
information about the
nature, severity, and impact of OCD symptoms on the
individual's daily life.

The questions are designed to identify specific obsessions

and compulsions,
as well as assess how these symptoms affect the person's
overall functioning.
Psychological Test:
Psychological testing involves the use of standardized
tests and assessments
to measure various aspects of an individual's mental
functioning, personality,
behavior, and abilities. These tests are used in a variety
of settings, including
clinical psychology, educational environments,
organizational settings, and
research, to help diagnose mental health conditions,
assess cognitive abilities,
and guide treatment or intervention strategies.

Types of Psychological Tests:

1. Cognitive Tests: These assess mental functions like
intelligence,
memory, problem-solving, and attention. Examples
include IQ tests
(e.g., Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale) and memory
assessments (e.g.,
the California Verbal Learning Test).
 2. Personality Tests: These measure personality traits,
characteristics, and
patterns. Examples include the Minnesota Multiphasic
Personality
Inventory (MMPI) and the Big Five Personality Traits
assessment.

3. Neuropsychological Tests: These are used to evaluate

cognitive
functions related to brain structure and function, often
following injury
or illness. Examples include the Halstead-Reitan
Neuropsychological
Battery and the Trail Making Test.

4. Achievement and Aptitude Tests: These assess

knowledge, skills, or
potential in specific areas, such as academic performance
or vocational
skills. Examples include the SAT and the Graduate Record
Examination
(GRE).
A thorough psychological evaluation for OCD
usually involves a combination
of clinical interviews, self-report measures, and
tests administered by a
clinician. The Yale-Brown Obsessive–Compulsive
Scale – Self-Report
(Y-BOCS-SR) is one of the most commonly used
tools, featuring a symptom
checklist and severity scale to measure the
individual's OCD symptoms and
their impact on daily life.
 Introduction
In 1895, the term obsessive neurosis
“zwangsneurose” was first
mentioned in Freud’s paper about “anxiety
neurosis”, the term
obsessive neurosis was still used by psychiatrists
well into the 1990s. But
that term zwangsneurose is where the name OCD
originated, it was
what Freud who called the obsessive and
compulsive illness
‘Zwangsneurose’, echoing the coinage of Austro-
German psychiatrist Richard Freiherr von Krafft-
Ebing, who referred to ’irresistible thoughts’
as ‘Zwangsvorsfellungen’. In the UK, Zwang, which
would be translated usually to ‘forced’ was
instead translated as ‘obsession’, but in the United
Stated it was
translated as ‘compulsion’, so Obsessive-
Compulsive Disorder emerged
as the eventual compromise at some time in the
mid 20th century.
 What is OCD?
Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) is a long-
lasting disorder in which a
person experiences uncontrollable and recurring
thoughts (obsessions),
engages in repetitive behaviours (compulsions), or
both. People with OCD
have time-consuming symptoms that can cause
significant distress or
interfere with daily life
 What are the signs and
symptoms of OCD?
People with OCD may have obsessions,
compulsions, or both.
of germs or contamination

Obsessions are repeated thoughts, urges, or

mental images that are intrusive, unwanted, and
make most people anxious.

Common obsessions include:

1. Fear of germs or contamination
2. Fear of forgetting, losing, or misplacing
something
3. Fear of losing control over one’s behaviour
4. Aggressive thoughts toward others or oneself
5. Unwanted, forbidden, or taboo thoughts
involving sex, religion, or harm
5. Desire to have things symmetrical or in perfect
order
Compulsions are repetitive behaviors a person
feels the urge to do, often in
response to an obsession. Common compulsions
include:

1. Excessive cleaning or handwashing

2.Ordering or arranging items in a particular,
precise way
3. Repeatedly checking things, such as that the
door is locked or the oven
is off
4.Compulsive counting
5. Praying or repeating words silently
Not all repeated thoughts are obsessions, and not all
rituals or
habits are compulsions. However, people with OCD
generally:
1. They can’t control their obsessions or compulsions,
even when they
know they’re excessive.
2. Spend more than 1 hour a day on their obsessions
or compulsions.
3. Don’t get pleasure from their compulsions but
may feel temporary relief
from their anxiety.
4. Experience significant problems in daily life due to
these thoughts or
behaviors.
OCD symptoms may begin anytime but usually
start between late childhood
and young adulthood. Most people with OCD are
diagnosed as young adults.
The symptoms of OCD may start slowly and can go
away for a while or worsen
as time passes. During times of stress, the
symptoms often get worse. A
person’s obsessions and compulsions also may
change over time.
 Diagnosis
Diagnosing OCD typically done by a qualified
psychologist, or
psychiatrist and involves a combination of
clinical interviews,
questionnaires, and sometimes physical exams to
rule out other
conditions. The diagnosis is primarily based on
the criteria outlined in
the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental
Disorders (DSM-5) or
the International Classification of Diseases (ICD-
10).
Key Criteria:
1.Presence of Obsessions and/or Compulsions:
Obsessions: Recurrent and persistent thoughts,
urges, or images that are intrusive and
unwanted,
causing significant anxiety or distress.
Compulsions: Repetitive behaviors or mental
acts
that a person feels driven to perform in response
to an
obsession or according to rigid rules.
2.The symptoms are not due to the effects of a
substance (e.g., drugs, medication) or another
medical
condition.

3.The obsessions or compulsions are time-

consuming
(e.g., taking more than an hour per day) or cause
significant distress or impairment in social,
occupational, or other important areas of
functioning.
 Tests and Assessments Used by
Health
Professionals:
1.Clinical Interview:
A detailed interview with the individual (and
sometimes
family members) to understand the nature of the
symptoms, their onset, duration, and impact on
daily life.
2.Yale-Brown Obsessive Compulsive Scale (Y-
BOCS):
Awidely used tool that assesses the severity of OCD
symptoms. It consists of a checklist of common
obsessions
and compulsions and a severity scale.
3.Obsessive-Compulsive Inventory (OCI):
A self-report questionnaire that helps identify the
presence
and severity of OCD symptoms.
4.Diagnostic Criteria from DSM-5 or ICD-10:

Health professionals use these criteria to determine

whether the symptoms meet the formal diagnosis of
OCD.
5.Physical Examination:

A physical exam might be conducted to rule out other

medical conditions that could be causing the
symptoms
(e.g., neurological issues).

6.Psychological Testing:
In some cases, additional
psychological tests may be used to assess
co-occurring conditions like depression, anxiety, or
personality disorders.
 How is OCD treated?
Treatment helps many people, even those with the
most severe forms of OCD. Mental
health professionals treat OCD with medications,
psychotherapy, or a combination of
treatments. A mental health professional can help
you decide which treatment option is
best for you and explain the benefits and risks of
each.
Following your treatment plan is important because
psychotherapy and medication can
take some time to work.
Although there is no cure for OCD, treatments help
people
manage their symptoms, engage in day-to-day
activities, and lead full, active lives.
1.Psychotherapy
Psychotherapy can be an effective treatment for
adults and children with OCD.
Research shows that certain types of psychotherapy,
including cognitive behavioral
therapy and other related therapies, can be as
effective as medication for many people.
For others, psychotherapy may be most effective
when combined with medication.

2. Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT):

CBT is a type of talk therapy that helps
people recognize harmful or untrue ways of thinking
so they can more clearly
view and respond to challenging situations. CBT
helps people learn to question
these negative thoughts, determine how they impact
their feelings and actions,
and change self-defeating behavior patterns. CBT
has been well studied and is
considered the “gold standard” of psychotherapy for
many people. CBT works
best when customized to treat the unique
characteristics of specific mental
disorders, including OCD.
3. Exposure and response prevention therapy
(ERP): Research shows that
ERP, a specific type of CBT, effectively reduces
compulsive behaviors, even for
people who do not respond well to medication.
With ERP, people spend time in a
safe environment that gradually exposes them to
situations that trigger their
obsession (such as touching dirty objects) and
prevent them from engaging in
their typical compulsive behavior (such as
handwashing). Although this approach
may initially cause anxiety, creating a risk of
dropping out of treatment
prematurely, compulsions decrease for most
people as they continue treatment.
4. Medication
Health care providers may prescribe medication
to help treat OCD. The most common
medications prescribed for OCD are
antidepressants that target serotonin, a chemical
transmitter in the brain involved in depression
and OCD. The largest category of
antidepressants is called selective serotonin
reuptake inhibitors.
 Case Study
Case Study: Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder in a 27-
Year-Old Woman
1. About the Case
This case study discusses a 27-year-old Chinese
woman named Laura, who was
diagnosed with Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder
(OCD). Her symptoms began during a
stressful period while preparing for a national
postgraduate entrance exam. Over the
years, her OCD symptoms fluctuated, and after
childbirth, she developed paranoid
delusions, resulting in significant distress and
impacting her personal life, including her
marriage and relationship with her child.
2. Observation of the Case Study
Laura initially exhibited compulsive behaviors such
as repeatedly turning pages,
rearranging objects, and checking whether doors
and lamps were closed. She did not
initially find these behaviors distressing, but they
were time-consuming and interfered
with her studies.
After childbirth, Laura’s obsessions intensified,
leading to paranoid
delusions about her child’s health and
overwhelming impulses to harm the baby. Her
condition required continuous psychiatric
intervention, including
medication adjustments and psychotherapy,
eventually leading to
remission.

3. Data Identification

1. Name: Laura
2. Gender: Female
3. Date of Birth: 1982 (27 years old at the initial
presentation in
2009)
4. Age: 38 years (at the last follow-up in 2020)
4. Daily Routine
Laura’s daily routine before treatment involved
repetitive checking
behaviors, such as ensuring that doors and lamps
were off and items on
her desk were perfectly arranged. After childbirth,
her routine became
increasingly disturbed by obsessive thoughts and
anxiety about her
child’s health, leading to sleep disturbances and
frequent hospital visits
to seek reassurance.

5. Health Research
OCD is a chronic mental disorder characterized by
intrusive thoughts
(obsessions) and repetitive behaviors
(compulsions) performed to
alleviate anxiety. In Laura's case, OCD symptoms
worsened during
significant life events like pregnancy and
childbirth. OCD can be
exacerbated by stress, and without treatment, it
can lead to severe
distress and impaired functioning.
6. Socio-Economic Status
Laura comes from a middle-class family. She was
academically inclined,
preparing for a national exam when her symptoms
first appeared.
Her husband, the only child of his family, was a
supportive yet practical man.

However, her condition strained her marriage,

eventually leading to a
divorce. Post-treatment, she resumed her job and
maintained financial
independence.

7. Symptoms
Initial Symptoms: Compulsions such as page-
turning, object
rearranging, and checking behaviours.
Later Symptoms: Paranoid delusions about the
health of her
child, overwhelming impulses to harm the baby,
anxiety, irritability,
insomnia, and somatic symptoms like headaches
and chest tightness.
8. Treatment
1. Initial Treatment (2009): Sertraline was
prescribed, leading to significant
improvement in OCD symptoms.
2. During Pregnancy (2012-2014): Supportive
psychotherapy and
relaxation therapy were provided, but Laura
declined medication
due to pregnancy concerns.
3. Postpartum (2014): Fluvoxamine, sodium
valproate, and later
duloxetine was prescribed due to her worsening
condition.
4. Relapse (2016): Aripiprazole was introduced,
leading to significant
improvement.
 Interview of Family Members
Question 1: How did Laura’s OCD symptoms initially
manifest, and
how did they affect her daily life?
Family Response: "Laura’s compulsive behaviors
became
evident when she started preparing for her exams. It
took a
toll on her studies, as she would spend hours rearranging
things and checking locks instead of focusing on her
books."

question 2: How has Laura’s life changed since receiving

treatment?
Family Response: "Laura has made significant progress.
She has
returned to work, her relationship with her ex-husband
has
improved, and she is even considering having another
child."
 Subject Interview
Question 1: How was your OCD diagnosed?
Laura’s Response: "I was diagnosed after the
compulsive behaviours started interfering with my
studies. I couldn’t focus
on anything other than ensuring everything was in
perfect
order."
Question 2: How did the treatment help you
manage your symptoms?
Laura’s Response: "The medications, especially the
ones
after childbirth, were crucial. They helped calm my
mind, and
over time, the compulsions and delusions became
less overwhelming."

Question 4: How has your condition affected your

personal life?
Laura’s Response: "It destroyed my marriage and
strained my
relationship with my daughter. I couldn’t be the
mother or wife I wanted to be."
 Result of the Treatment

After multiple adjustments to her treatment plan,

including the
introduction of aripiprazole and fluvoxamine,
Laura’s symptoms
significantly improved. By 2020, she reported
minimal OCD symptoms,
had a stable job, and even reconciled with her ex-
husband.
 Prognosis of OCD
OCD is a chronic condition that often requires long-
term management. The prognosis varies depending
on the severity of the symptoms and the
effectiveness of the treatment. In Laura’s case, with
consistent medication and
therapy, she achieved a good level of remission,
allowing her to lead a stable
life. However, OCD symptoms can recur,
particularly during periods of stress,
and ongoing treatment and monitoring are often
necessary to maintain
stability.
 Biblography
1. Cleveland Clinic. (n.d.). Obsessive-compulsive
disorder (OCD). Retrieved from
https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/disease
s/9490-ocd-obsessive-compulsive-disorder
2. Indeed. (n.d.). What is a case study in
psychology?. Retrieved from
https://ca.indeed.com/career-advice/career-
development/what-is-a-case-study-in-
psychology
3. National Institute of Mental Health. (n.d.).
Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD).
Retrieved from
https://www.nimh.nih.gov/health/topics/obse
ssive-compulsive-disorder-ocd
4. National Library of Medicine. (2022).
Obsessive-compulsive disorder. PubMed
Central. Retrieved from
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/P
MC9082687/
5. OCD-UK. (n.d.). History of OCD. Retrieved
from https://www.ocduk.org/ocd/history-of-
ocd/
Thank You