OCD-biological Apporach

Question 1

Genetic expalanation of OCD

Answer 1

Biological approach

OCD is due to physical factors in the body , tends to run in families

Suggests a genetic predisposition to ocd is inherited

Due to inheritance of one or many maladaptive genes

Is polygenic caused by combination of genes that increase vunrability to ocd

“Candidate genes” makes a person more vunrable to ocd

These are called “COMT” and “SERT” genes

Question 2

What is the sert gene involved in ?

Answer 2

The transportation of serotonin

Question 3

What happens if a sert gene gets mutated ?

Answer 3

Reduces serotonin activity levels

Which is associated with an increase in anxiety and ocd symptoms such as obsessions

Question 4

Nueral explanation of OCD?

Answer 4

Due to imbalance of neurotransmitters

Specifically low levels of serotonin activity

Serotonin is involved in stabling mood

Mutation in sert gene causes serotonin to be recycled too quickly back into the pre synaptic nueron before it can activate the post synaptic nueron

Low levels of serotonin activity can lead to anxiety

This can be seen with the obsession in ocd