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z Psychology - OCD > Biological Explanation > Flashcards

Biological Explanation Flashcards

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1
Q

What are the biological explanations of OCD?

A

Neuroanatomical

Neurochemical

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2
Q

What is the underlying principle of the neuroanatomical explanation?

A

That structural abnormalities in the central nervous system may be the cause of OCD

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3
Q

What areas of the brain are linked to structural abnormalities causing OCD?

A

OFC (orbito-frontal cortex)
Basal ganglia
Caudate nuclei
Thalamus

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4
Q

What does the OFC stand for?

A

Orbito-frontal cortex

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5
Q

What do the OFC, caudate nuclei and thalamus do?

A

Form a circuit whose function seems to be to convert sensory information into thoughts and actions

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6
Q

What is the basal ganglia connected to?

A

The OFC and ACC

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7
Q

What is the function of the OFC?

A

The part of the brain that becomes aware of a threat

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8
Q

When the OFC detects a threat what does it do?

A

Send a message to the thalamus

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9
Q

Once the thalamus has received a message from the OFC what does it do?

A

It sends the threat message back to the OFC

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10
Q

What is the function of the thalamus?

A

To direct messages to the appropriate areas of the brain

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11
Q

What is the function of the caudate nuclei?

A

The regulate messages sent between the OFC and thalamus

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12
Q

What happens when the thalamus receives a ‘threat’ message from the OFC?

A

It becomes excited and sends strong signals back

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13
Q

According to this theory, how do the brains of those with and without OCD differ?

A

Those with OCD have a faulty caudate nuclei

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14
Q

How does the caudate nuclei normally respond to the thalamus strong returned signals?

A

It will intercept them and suppress the worry signals preventing the thalamus from becoming overexcited

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15
Q

How does the caudate nuclei prevent the thalamus from becoming over excited?

A

It intercepts and suppresses the threat messages it has tried to send back to the OFC

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16
Q

Explain the neuroanatomical explanation (long version)…

A

The OFC detects a threat
It sends a message to the thalamus
The thalamus detects the message, becomes excited and then tries to send strong signals back to the OFC
The caudate nuclei which usually would suppress these signals, in turn, calming down the thalamus, is faulty so the thalamus remains excited and the signals go back to the OFC
This overwhelms the person with obsessions and compulsions

17
Q

Give a example of the neuroanatomical explanation…

A

OFC: DANGER! DIRTY DESK!
Thalamus: OMG DO SOMETHING BEFORE WE GET SICK AMD DIE
OFC: WE NEED TO SCRUB IT WITH BLEACH HELP

18
Q

Give an example of the neuroanatomical explanation in a person without OCD…

A

OFC: DANGER! DIRTY DESK!
Thalamus: OMG DO SOMETHING BEFORE WE GET SICK AMD DIE
Caudate nucleus: don’t worry it is just spilt water

19
Q

What studies are relevant to the neuroanatomical explanation?

A

Coetzer
(Wise and Rapport)
Piggot et al

20
Q

What were Coetzer’s findings?

A

Damage to the OFC/basal ganglia as a result from a head injury or illness such as a brain tumour can give rise to OCD

21
Q

What do Coetzer’s findings suggest?

A

It implies there is a cause and effect relationship between basal ganglia damage and OCD

22
Q

what were Wise and Rapport’s findings?

A

OCD is often co-morbid with disorders where the basal ganglia is damaged

23
Q

what do Wise and Rapport’s findings suggest?

A

The caudate nucleus forms part of the basal ganglia so this shows the disorders may share a cause i.e damage to the basal ganglia

24
Q

What is the main principle of the Neurochemical explanation?

A

That there is a link between OCD and insufficient levels of the neurotransmitter serotonin

25
Q

What neurotransmitter is associated with OCD?

A

Low levels of serotonin

26
Q

What is the role of serotonin?

A

It regulates mood, aggression, impulse, sleep, appetite ect

27
Q

Where has evidence come from that low levels of serotonin are associated with OCD?

A

Observations that anti depressant drugs can relieve the symptoms of OCD

28
Q

What is the role of anti-depressants?

A

They act on the serotonin systems in the brain

29
Q

What is an example of an anti depressant?

A

SSRIs such as Prozac

30
Q

How do SSRIs work?

A

They block re-uptake of serotonin which increases levels of serotonin in the synapse

31
Q

What type of anti depressant is most effective in relieving OCD symptoms?

A

SSRIs

32
Q

What study is relevant to the Neurochemical explanation?

A

Zohar et al

33
Q

What is Zohar et als study relevant to?

A

The Neurochemical explanation

34
Q

What were Zohar et als findings?

A

He found SSRIs were beneficial for up to 60% of OCD patients

35
Q

Why can it not be concluded that low serotonin is the root cause of OCD?

A

Because it could be that low serotonin is a result of OCD because people are upset with their obsessions and compulsions and are restricted by them

36
Q

What is the improved Neurochemical explanation?

A

Serotonin is also a neuromodulator, it has been suggested it has an important role in regulating other neurotransmitters e.g dopamine and GABA. It is thought disruption of serotonin could have a knock on effect resulting in OCD symptoms.

37
Q

What were piggott et als findings?

A

Not everyone who suffered damage to the basal ganglia developed ocd

z Psychology - OCD (6 decks)

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