3.6 Psychopathology - Biological Explanations of OCD (Genetic and Neural)

Question 1

What are the two biological explanations of OCD?

Answer 1

The genetic explanation

The neural explanation - Role of Neurotransmitters and Role of Neuroanatomy

Question 2

What did Lewis (1936) find in regards to the Genetic Explanation of OCD?

Answer 2

Found 37% of his OCD patients had parents with OCD, 27% had siblings with OCD

Question 3

What did Nestadt (2010) find about in regards to the Genetic Explanation of OCD?

Answer 3

Studied Twins and found a concordance rate of 67% for MZ twins and 31% for DZ twins

Question 4

What 2 genes are thought to be associated with OCD?

Answer 4

. COMT Gene

. SERT Gene

Question 5

What is the COMT Gene responsible for?

Answer 5

The regulation of dopamine - OCD caused by an error which results in excess production of dopamine.

Question 6

What is the SERT Gene responsible for?

Answer 6

Effects the transportation of serotonin - OCD caused by serotonin becoming too low

Question 7

What does the neural explanation argue is the cause of OCD?

Answer 7

Low levels of serotonin in the brain

Question 8

What scans have been used to observe OCD?

Answer 8

PET Scans

Question 9

What did Hu (2006) find in regards to the Role of Neurotransmitters?

Answer 9

Found lower levels of serotonin in OCD patients compared to none OCD sufferers

Question 10

What two parts of the brain are associated with OCD?

Answer 10

. Basal Ganglia

. Orbitofrontal Cortex

Question 11

What is the Orbitofrontal Cortex involved in?

Answer 11

Decision Making - This causes impulses in OCD

Question 12

What is the Basal Ganglia involved in?

Answer 12

Procedural Learning - This area is overactive in OCD Patients

Question 13

What did Ursu and Carter (2009) research and what did it find?

Answer 13

Monitored brain activity in the Orbitofrontal Cortex and found it to be overactive in OCD patients and that it leads to increased anxiety in thus causes patients to plan to avoid

Question 14

Strengths of the Biological Explanation of OCD

Answer 14

. Useful as it has led to treatment as a result of identifying its cause (Low serotonin) Leads to a better quality of life for sufferers and positive economic impact
. Uses objective Brain Scans - PET and CBT so is scientific

Question 15

Limitations of the Biological Explanation of OCD

Answer 15

. Reductionist as it states OCD caused by low serotonin, no consideration of environmental factors
. Determinist as it states levels of serotonin are preset and can not be changed suggesting it’s genetic and doesn’t consider environmental factors