Biological approach to explaining OCD

Question 1

What is the biological approach?

Answer 1

Assumes that abnormality is caused by phisological factors like brain biochemistry, neuroanatomy and genetics. Treatments that alter phisology eg drugs are used to adress the disorder.

Question 2

Explanations for OCD

Answer 2

Found thatfirst degree relatives of people with OCD have a greater vunrability of developing the disorder.

Question 3

Research support for the bioloigical approach to OCD

Answer 3

Nestadt et al found that first degreebrelatives of OCD sufferers had an 11.7% chance of developing the disorder compared to a 2.7% risk in the general population.

Question 4

What is the SERT gene?

Answer 4

One gene that causes OCD is the SERT gene. If this is impaired it leads to diminished levels of the neurotransmitter seretonin. In a study a mutation of this gene was founnd in 2 unrelated families where 6 out of 7 members had OCD.

Question 5

What is the orbitofrontal cortex?

Answer 5

Mor specifically the caudate nucleus. This it the areathat is able to ancipate the possible outcome of future behaviour. This usually relays messages to the thalamus about minor worries and the caudate nucleus usually supprress these impulses.

Question 6

The role of neuroanatomy as an explaination of OCD

Answer 6

If the caudate nucleus is damaged and fails to supress these messages minor worries become blown out of proportion and turn into obsessions that need to be acted upon as compulsion.