biological approach to explaining OCD

Question 1

COMT gene

Answer 1

regulates the function of dopamine

Question 2

SERT gene

Answer 2

is associated with the transport of serotonin

Question 3

lower levels of COMT are related too

Answer 3

high levels of dopamine

Question 4

Lower levels of serotonin are associated with

Answer 4

symptoms of OCD

Question 5

cognitive characteristics

Answer 5

persistent and recurrent thoughts

Question 6

emotional characteristics

Answer 6

lead to anxiety, stress

Question 7

behavioural characteristics

Answer 7

receptive behavioural responses

Question 8

A03 criticism

Answer 8

• ignoring environmental influences– social learning theory
• biological explanations are reductionist as only focus on one factor
• also deterministic as ignore individual free will

Question 9

A03 strength

Answer 9

testability via neuroscience evidence for genetic and neurotransmitters involvement

Question 10

carey and Gottesman 1981 found

Answer 10

identical twins showed a concordance rate of 87% for obsessive symptoms compared to 47% of DZ twins

Question 11

evualtion Gottesman

Answer 11

genetic factors important
concordance rate of MZ twins may be due to nurture
the genes create genetic venerability as it is not them on their own
OCD may be culturally rather than genetically transmitted
family members may be more vulnerable from stressful environment- social learning theory

Question 12

neural explanations- pre frontal cortex

Answer 12

involed with the decision making and regulation of primitive aspects of our behaviour

Question 13

over reactive pre frontal cortex

Answer 13

causes exaggerated control of primal impulses

Question 14

high levels of dopamine are thought to affect what

Answer 14

concentration