Explaining OCD

Question 1

What approach explains OCD?

Answer 1

The biological approach

Question 2

How does the biological approach explain OCD?

Answer 2

It sees abnormal conditions as being similar to physical illnesses caused by abnormal biological processes

Question 3

What are the two biological explanations for explaining OCD?

Answer 3

Genetic and neural explanations

Question 4

How do genetic explanations explain OCD?

Answer 4

OCD is inherited through genetic transmission with research originally centring on twin and family studies to assess whether this viewpoint is valid and is so to what extent genes do play a part

Question 5

What are gene mapping studies?

Answer 5

Comparing genetic material from OCD sufferers and non sufferers. They also permit researchers to see whether OCD is truly is a separate disorder as OCD sufferers often also have Tourette’s syndrome. It is unlikely that a single gene causes OCD and is more likely that it is a combination of genes that determine an individual’s level of vulnerability to the condition

Question 6

What are the three neural explanations to explaining OCD?

Answer 6

1. Breakdowns in the immune system
2. PET scans show low levels of serotonin activity
3. PET scans show high levels of activity on the orbital frontal cortex

Question 7

How does breakdowns in the immune system cause OCD?

Answer 7

A breakdown in the immune system can lead to threat infections, Lyme’s disease and influenza which would indicate a biological explanation through damage to neural mechanisms. Such onset of the disorder is more often seen in children than adults

Question 8

How does low levels of serotonin cause OCD?

Answer 8

Patients that have OCD have been given drugs that increase serotonin level which have been found to reduce the symptoms of OCD which suggests that neurotransmitters may be involved with the disorder

Question 9

How does high levels of activity on the orbital frontal cortex cause OCD?

Answer 9

A brain area associated with higher level though processes and the conversion of sensory information into thoughts. A non sufferer may have an impulse to wash dirt from their hands and once this is done the impulse to perform the activity stops. It may be that those with OCD have difficulty in switching off or ignoring impulses so that they turn into obsessions resulting in compulsive behaviour

Question 10

What are two strengths of the biological approach explaining OCD?

Answer 10

1. There is evidence that OCD is a result of their genetic make up. Nestadt et al reviewed twin studies and found that 68% of identical twins shared OCD as opposed to 31% of non identical twins
2. Some antidepressants work purely on the serotonin system and such drugs are effective in reducing OCD symptoms

Question 11

What are three limitations of the biological approach explaining OCD?

Answer 11

1. There must be some environmental influences upon the disorder or else the concordance rate of identical twins would be 100%
2. The fact that family members often display dissimilar OCD symptoms weakens the support for the genetic viewpoint and if they were inherited the behaviours would be the same
3. Even though research indicates there are neural differences between OCD sufferers and no sufferers, it is till not known these differences relate to the precise mechanisms of OCD