Explaining OCD Flashcards

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1
Q

What approach explains OCD?

A

The biological approach

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2
Q

What was found by Lewis that starts the genetic explanation?

A

Lewis (1936) found that in his OCD patients, 37% had parents with OCD and 21% had siblings with OCD

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3
Q

What are candidate genes?

A

Candidate genes are certain genes which cause vulnerability for OCD

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4
Q

What are the certain genes that cause vulnerability for OCD called?

A

Candidate genes

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5
Q

OCD is not cause by a single gene. What does this make OCD?

A

Polygenic

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6
Q

OCD is polygenic, what does this mean?

A

This means OCD is not caused by a single gene but by a combination of genes

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7
Q

What did a study in 2013 find to support the genetic explanation for OCD?

A

A study by Taylor in 2013 found evidence that up to 230 genes may be involved in OCD, including genes that regulate dopamine and serotonin levels

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8
Q

What is the origin of OCD?

A

Heterogeneous

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9
Q

What does is mean when OCD is referred to as heterogeneous?

A

It means OCD varies from person to person. One group of genes may cause OCD in one person but a different group of genes may cause the disorder in another person

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10
Q

What is the key to the neural explanation?

A

The role of serotonin

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11
Q

What are the results of reduction of functioning of the serotonin system?

A

The reduction in the functioning of the serotonin system in the brain has been implicated in OCD and causes a person to experience a low mood

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12
Q

What is OCD characterised by?

A

Poor decision making

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13
Q

What is OCD characterised by? What has this characteristic been associated with?

A

OCD is characterised by poor decision. This has been associated with the abnormal functioning of the lateral of the front lobes of the brain

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14
Q

What is a limitation of the biological explanation of OCD? (environmental factors)

A

There is a lack of consideration for environmental factors that may contribute to the development of OCD. A study by Cromer et al (2007) found that more than half of participants had experienced a traumatic experience in the past that led to the development of the OCD

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15
Q

What is a strength of the biological explanation of OCD? (twins + genetic cause)

A

There is a lot of evidence to support the suggestion that OCD is due to genetic cause. For example, a study of twins (by Nestaat et al 2010) found that 68% of identical twins shared OCD as opposed to 31% of non - identical twins. Other research also implies that if you have a family member with OCD you would be 4 times more likely to develop than some without.

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16
Q

What is a limitation of the biological explanation of OCD? (depression)

A

A limitation of the biological explanation of OCD is when patients have co - morbidity. Co - morbidity is when people have two disorders together, which means people have OCD and depression. For this reason neural explanations relating to serotonin are difficult to draw conclusions from

17
Q

What is co-morbidity?

A

Co-morbidity is when there are two disorders together