Bio App Explain OCD- Genetic App/neural Exp/neuroanatomical App AO3

Question 1

Biological approach OCD is due to…

Answer 1

-physical factors in body
-OCD tends to run in fam sugg genetic predisposition to OCD is inherited
-due to inheritance of one or many maladaptive genes e.g SERT
-ocd= polygenic not caused by one gene but many that inc vulnerability to OCD
-candidate genes= vonurable to develop OCD called COMT and SERT genes

Question 2

SERT gene?

Answer 2

-Involved in transportation of serotonin
-if mutated reduces serotonin activity levels
-associated with inc anxiety and ocd symptoms

Question 3

COMT gene?

Answer 3

-regulation of dopamine in brain
-one form of COMT found more common ppl with ocd than those who don’t have
-increases in dopamine activity associated with compulsions in OCD

Question 4

Neural expl A01

Answer 4

OCD due to imbalance in neurotransmitters specifically low levels of serotonin
-serotonin= maintain stable mood
-mutation in SERT gene cause serotonin be recycled too quickly back into pre synaptic neuron before it can activate post synaptic
neuron
-low level serotonin lead to anxiety can be seen with obsession in ocd

Question 5

Neuroanatomical approach
A01

Answer 5

OCD= associated with faulty decision making in brain
-neuroanatomy= size shape and function of certain areas of brain nd how linked with ocd
-ocd abnormal functioning in frontal lobe of brain
-frontal lobe= logic thinking and decision making linked OCD as Individual unaware there thought process is irrational
-parahippocampal gyrus associated with processing unpleasant emotions such as anxiety function abnormally in ppl with ocd

Question 6

AO3 limitation of biological app to explain OCD

Answer 6

P- biologically reductionist
E-reduces complex human b of OCD to simple basic units of gene (SERT) and/or neurotransmitters imbalance and/or neuro anatomy e.g low serotonin activity levels/faulty parahippocampal gyrus.
E- neglects a holistic app wich take into acc person social culture context influence ocd e.g research show higher prevalence of ocd in certain religious group regular cleansing before prayer
L- therefore biological expl lack validity does not allow us to understand behaviour in context

Question 7

AO3 Strength of genetic expl of OCD

Answer 7

-conducted Gerald et al
-studied link between twins and genetic vulnerability to ocd
-found 68% of monozygotic twinges shared ocd whereas only 31% of dizygotic twins shared ocd showing genetic predisposition of ocd
- supporting biological