Lesson 12: The Biological Approach To Explaining OCD - Genetic And Neural Explanations Flashcards
What is the biological approach to explaining OCD?
The approach which assumes that OCD is caused by genetics and neural explanations
Why is OCD classed as polygenic?
This means that one single gene is not responsible for the disorder
What are candidate genes?
Genes that might be responsible for the trait (in this case OCD)
Which genes may be responsible for OCD?
COMT gene
SERT gene
How does the COMT gene cause OCD?
It regulates the production of the neurotransmitter dopamine
High levels of dopamine are associated with OCD
The CONT gene has been found to be more common in OCD patients than those who don’t have OCD
How does the SERT gene cause OCD?
The gene affects the transportation of serotonin which results in lower levels of serotonin (resulting in a low mood)
Individual have the SERT gene on chromosome 17. A mutation has caused this gene
What was Ozaki’s 2003 research and what did it discover?
Ozaki (2003) found evidence that 6 out 7 family members who had OCD had a mutation of the SERT gene. There for OCD had a genetic basis
Neural Explanation for OCD
Dopamine and Serotonin are neurotransmitters that affect mood. The frontal lobes in the brain have been linked to dopamine and serotonin activity
OCD suffers have high levels of dopamine. High dopamine levels have also been associated with motor function and learning
Serotonin plays key role operating the caudate nucleus in the brain and low levels of serotonin cause it to malfunction
Billett (1998)
Billett (1998) supports the idea that OCD is transmitted genetically. He found from a meta analysis of 14 twins studies that OCD is twice as likely to be concordant in identical monozygotic twins rather than dizygotic non identical twins. Supports the idea that OCD is transferred by genetics
