Addiction, OCD, Anti-social Behavior
Question
Case study on addiction in the field of psychology concentrating on obsessive compulsions and anti-social behaviors. A single patient or a small group. Single patient preferred. I'm sending a sample paper and instructions. Thanks


Solution
Addiction, OCD,
Anti-social Behavior
A 2022 case study
conducted by Guisolphi et al. aimed to establish a link between substance
addictions and obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD). The study found that
obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) is a possible cause of substance use
disorder (SUD) and different physical, psychological, and cognitive
implications related to abuse of one or several drugs in an individual, which
compromises their quality of life. In this study, a 31- year –old male patient
with a history of obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) and SUD is taken through
bilateral ablative stereotactic neurosurgery. The patient is put under
observation, and up to 33 months later, he portrays significant improvements in
OCD and SUD and did not have any withdrawal symptoms and the urge to engage in
substance use. In addition, ablative stereotactic neurosurgery was an effective
way of controlling the implications of OCB, anxiety, and stress.
In most cases, as
was the case for the patient under study, people with obsessive-compulsive
disorder (OCD) tend to turn to substance abuse or engage in other anti-social
behaviors that provide an escape from their symptoms. OCS is a form of anxiety
disorder that results in intrusive thoughts. For instance, they may upset the
imaginations of an intruder breaking into their premises. In response, they may
be forced to engage in funny behaviors such as repeatedly checking if the doors
and windows are correctly locked. Additionally, while compulsion and addiction
may co-occur, they significantly differ. Addiction is prevalent among people
with more general or severe mental health conditions, including OCD. Commonly
abused substances include tobacco, alcohol, cannabis, opioids, cocaine, and
amphetamines. Additionally, the study discusses behavioral addictions whereby
70% of those surveyed portrayed symptoms of behavioral addictions.
Self-meditation is another reason
people with obsessive-compulsive disorders engage in anti-social behaviors and
substance abuse. People with OCD turn to substance abuse and other behaviors to
cope with the symptoms since they may provide temporary escapism. Considering
that OCD remains an underreported problem, people affected like the patient
under study tend to find ways to self-medicate because they may not get the
support they require. The use of addictive substances while seeking temporary
relief may worsen an individual’s mental health.
As the study
results suggest, several theories explain why addiction is common among people
with OCD. One idea that seeks to explain the connection is the argument that
there is a relationship between compulsiveness and impulsiveness. Impulsiveness
means that an individual cannot control their behavior following spontaneous
urges to take substances or engage in other anti-social behaviors that are
potentially addictive. People with severe OCD tend to portray higher
impulsivity rates, evidenced by the increased number of addictions in this
group. Additionally, people with behavioral addictions and OCD score higher on impulsivity
than others. Lastly, OCD and addiction may have severe implications on an
individual’s reward processing part of the brain; nonetheless, less research
provides the link between the two. More study is necessary to help experts
fully understand the connection.
The study results
point out the benefits of neuroablation to OCD and SUD patients, given the
significant improvements recorded in this case. Furthermore, the procedure was
safe and had no adverse effects on the patient, nor did it prevent him from
going about his daily activities, demonstrating that it is possible to improve
the quality of life for people with such conditions rather than allowing them
to engage in escapist techniques like substance abuse and other anti-social
behaviors.
Reference
Guisolphi,
Bessa, I. G., & Silva, L. J. da. (2022). Thermocoagulation Treatment of a
Patient with Obsessive Compulsive Disorder and Substance Use Disorder: Case
Report. Arquivos Brasileiros de Neurocirurgia. https://doi.org/10.1055/s-0041-1740166




About Author
Tough Essay Due? Hire Tough Essay Writers!
We have subject matter experts ready 24/7 to tackle your specific tasks and deliver them ON TIME, ready to hand in. Our writers have advanced degrees, and they know exactly what’s required to get you the best possible grade.
Find the right expert among 500+
We hire Gradewriters writers from different fields, thoroughly check their credentials, and put them through trials.
View all writers