bio to explain OCD Flashcards
genetic explanations: describe candidate genes
-specific genes which create a vulnerability for OCD, called candidate genes.
• Serotonin genes, e.g. 5HT1-D beta, are implicated in the transmission of serotonin across synapses.
• Dopamine genes are also implicated in OCD and may regulate mood.
Both dopamine and serotonin are neurotransmitters.
genetic explanations: describe how OCD is polygenic
OCD is not caused by one single gene but several genes are involved.
Taylor (2013) found evidence that up to 230 different genes may be involved in OCD.
genetic explanations: describe different types of OCD (3)
One group of genes may cause OCD in one person but a different group of genes may cause the disorder in another person - known as aetiologically heterogeneous.
-evidence that different types of OCD may bc of particular genetic variations eg hoarding disorder and religious obsession.
neural explanations: how does low serotonin lower mood
Neurotransmitters are responsible for relaying information from one neuron to another.
For example if a person has low levels of serotonin then normal transmission of mood-relevant information does not take place and mood (and sometimes other mental processes) is affected.
neural explanations: how does decision making systems in frontal lobes impaired
The frontal lobes are responsible for logical thinking and making decisions.
-OCD, and in particular hoarding disorder, seem to be associated with impaired decision-making
neural explanations: what area is the parahippocampal gurus associated with
There is also evidence to suggest that an area called the left parahippocampal gyrus, associated with processing unpleasant emotions, functions abnormally in OCD.
neural explanations: evaluate
-supporting evidence
-no unique neural system
genetic explanations: evaluate
+evidence for the genetic explanations of OCD
- existence of environmental risk factors
Animal studies
