OCD - biological explanation Flashcards

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1
Q

Genetic explanations

A
  • Of his OCD patients, 37% had parents with OCD and 21% had siblings with OCD
  • Suggests OCD runs in families - but what is passed on is genetic vulnerability not OCD
  • According to diathesis stress model certain genes leave some people more likely to develop a mental disorder but it isn’t certain - some environmental stress is necessary to trigger the condition
  • Candidate genes - certain genes create vulnerability for OCD - some of these genes involved in regulating development of serotonin system
  • OCD is polygenic - means OCD is caused by many genes not just one - they together increase vulnerability - up to 230 different genes may be involved in OCD
  • Different types of OCD - one group of genes may cause OCD in one person a different group of genes may cause the disorder in another person - term to describe this is aetiologically heterogeneous means that origins of OCD vary from one person to another
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2
Q

Neural explanations

A
  • The role of serotonin - a neurotransmitter which is believed to help regulate mood - neurotransmitters are responsible for relaying information from one neurone to another - low level of serotonin then normal transmission of mood relevant information doesn’t take place so person may experience low moods - some cases of OCD may be explained by a reduction in the functioning of serotonin system in the brain
  • Decision making systems - some cases of OCD may be associated with impaired decision making - could be associated with abnormal functioning of the lateral of frontal lobes of the brain - frontal lobes are responsible for logical thinking - evidence to suggest that the left parahippocampal gyrus, is associated with processing unpleasant emotions
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3
Q

Genetic explanations - Strength

A
  • Strong evidence base
  • People are vulnerable to OCD as a result of their genetic makeup
  • Source of evidence is twin studies - found that 68% of identical twins shared OCD as opposed to 31% of non-identical twins
  • Suggests there must be some genetic influence on the development of OCD
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4
Q

Genetic explanations - Limitation

A
  • There’s also environmental risk factors
  • OCD does not appear to be entirely genetic in origin and it seems that environmental risk factors can also trigger or increase the risk of developing OCD
  • Means that genetic vulnerability only provides a partial explanation for OCD
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5
Q

Neural explanations - Strength

A
  • Some supporting evidence
  • Antidepressants that work purely on serotonin are effective in reducing OCD symptoms - suggests serotonin may be involved in OCD
  • OCD symptoms form part of conditions that are biological in origin, e.g Parkinson’s disease, which causes muscle tremors and paralysis
  • If a biological disorder produces OCD symptoms, we may assume the biological processes underline OCD
  • Suggests that biological factors may also be responsible for OCD
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6
Q

Neural explanations - Limitation

A
  • Serotonin OCD link may not be unique to OCD
  • Many people with OCD also experience clinical depression (co-morbidity)
  • This depression might involves disruption to action of serotonin
  • Leaves us with a logical problem when it comes to serotonin as a possible basis for OCD
  • Could simply be that serotonin activity is disrupted in many people with OCD because they are depressed as well
  • Means serotonin may not be relevant to OCD symptoms
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