Genetic explanations of OCD

Question 1

What do genetic explanations say is the cause of OCD?

Answer 1

OCD is inherited from specific genes (that cause OCD duh)

Question 2

What is the COMT gene and what does it do?

Answer 2

• It is linked to the production of catechol-0-methyltransferase
• it regulates the production of the neurotransmitter dopamine (releases pleasure)
• One form of the COMT gene is more prevalent in OCD patients
• this causes lower activity of COMT gene and higher levels of dopamine

Question 3

What is the SERT gene?

Answer 3

Also called 5-HTT affects the transport of serotonin (mood stabilisers which cause happiness) which creates low levels of the neurotransmitter. Ozaki et al 2003 found a mutation of this gene in two unrelated families where six of the seven family members had OCD

Question 4

what is the Diathesis - stress model?

Answer 4

States that psychological disorders result from interaction between inherent vulnerability and environmental stressors
Genes give vulnerability stressors (factors) which determine whether or not an illness exists
This means that some people could possess the COMT and the SERT gene but suffer no illness because they have no stressors