Evaluation of Neural explanations of OCD

Question 1

Name an advantage of neural explanations of OCD

Answer 1

There is supporting evidence between neural explanations and OCD
Many studies demonstrate the genetic link to abnormal levels of neurotransmitters
Menzies et al (2007) used MRI scans to produce images of brain activity in OCD and their immediate family members with OCD and a group of healthy unrelated people
OCD patients and their close relatives had reduced grey matters in key regions of the brain including the OFC
This supports the view that anatomical differences are inherited and may lead to OCD

Question 2

Name an advantage of neural explanations of OCD

Answer 2

Salloway and Duffy in 2002 found that the brains of patients with OCD were structured in a different way
Brain scans of OCD showed increased activity in the PFC

Question 3

Name a final disadvantage of OCD

Answer 3

Whether or not low serotonin causes OCD is unknown
All we know is that low serotonin and OCD are linked
It is difficult to determine whether the low levels of neurotransmitters cause the disorder or whether it is the effect of having the disorder or is merely associated
Biochemical abnormalities may not just be specific to OCD and may be true of any mental disorder