Explanations of OCD Flashcards
What did Nestadt find?
First degree relatives of OCD suffered had an 11.7% chance of developing the disorder, compared to 2.7% risk in a control group of first degree relatives of people without OCD
What did Miguel find?
A 53-87% concordance rate of OCD with MZ twins, compared to only 22-47% concordance rate for DZ twins
What is the COMT gene involved in?
The regulation of dopamine production
What did Tukel find?
That lower levels of activity of the COMT gene lead to higher levels of dopamine and higher levels of dopamine are associated with compulsions in OCD
What is the sapap3 gene?
Situated in the striatum which directly inputs to the basal ganglia and controls processes such as planning and initiating an appropriate action
What did Feng find?
Mice lacking this gene had high anxiety levels and spent excessive amounts of time grooming to the extent of pulling their own fur, when given sapap3 protein the abnormal behaviour disappeared
What areas of the brain is linked to OCD?
- Basal ganglia
- Orbifrontal cortex
What does the basal ganglia do?
Unconsciously repeats activities
What does the orbifrontal cortex do?
Decision making and worrying (do something otherwise something bad will happen)
What does an overactive OFC do?
Increases anxiety and planning
What did Ursu and Carter find?
Using fMRI scans they found heightened activity in the OFC in 15 patients with OCD
What does serotonin do?
Regulates mood
What did Comer find?
Serotonin is virtually linked to the OFC and caudate nucleus
What did Sukel study?
The basal ganglia, linking high levels of dopamine to over activity in this area of the brain
What are 3 evaluation points?
- Evidence supporting genetic explanations
- Environmental factors: gain vulnerability towards OCD through genes and then triggered by environment
- Brain scans allow researchers to investigate brain
