psychopathology - ocd biological approach Flashcards

1
Q

what is one form of biological explanation for OCD

A

the genetic explanation

Genes are involved in vulnerability to OCD.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
2
Q

who observed OCD patients

A

Lewis (1936)

37% had parents with OCD and 21% had siblings with OCD.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
3
Q

what did lewis study suggest

A

genetic vulnerability to OCD runs in families

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
4
Q

what dose the diathesis stress model say about OCD

A

certain genes leave some people more likely to develop a mental disorder

Environmental stress needed to trigger this.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
5
Q

what are candidate genes

A

specific genes which create a vulnerability for OCD,

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
6
Q

one example of a candidate gene for OCD

A

serotonin genes - implicated in the transmission of serotonin across synapses (NEUROTRANSMITTER)

Dopamine genes

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
7
Q

what dose the genetic explanation say OCD is

A

polygenetic

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
8
Q

who study polygenetic genes in OCD

A

Taylor (2013)

up to 230 different genes may be involved in OCD.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
9
Q

Describe different types of OCD

A

aetiologically heterogeneous, meaning that the origins of OCD vary from one person to another.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
10
Q

STRENGTH OF THE Genetic explanation

A

strong evidence base

Nestadt et al. reviewed twin studies
found that 68% of identical twins (MZ) shared OCD
31% of non-identical twins (DZ).

Marini and Stebnicki - person with a family member with OCD is around four times as likely to develop it as someone without.

people who are genetically similar are more likely to share OCD, supporting a role for genetic vulnerability.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
11
Q

LIMITATION OF THE genetic explanation

A

existence of environmental risk factors.

environmental risk factors that trigger or increase the risk of OCD.

Cromer et al. (2007) - one sample over half of people with OCD experienced a traumatic event. OCD severely correlated positively with a number of traumas.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
12
Q

describe the role of seretonin in OCD

A

believed to help regulate mood.

responsible for relaying information from one neuron to another. (The Basal Ganglia to the obitolfrontal cortex to motor area.)

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
13
Q

what happens if a person has low seretonin

A

normal transmission of mood-relevant information does not take place, mood is affected

ocd - explained by a reduction in the functioning of the serotonin system in the brain.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
14
Q

how dose the decision making process work

A

associated with abnormal functioning of the lateral (side bits) frontal lobes of the brain.

frontal lobes are responsible for logical thinking and decision making.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
15
Q

strength of the neural model of OCD

A

supporting evidence

Antidepressants that work on serotonin reduce OCD symptoms. This suggests that serotonin may be involved on OCD.

OCD symptoms form part of conditions that are known to be biological in origin, such as Parkinson’s disease

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
16
Q

limitation of the neural model

A

does not necessarily mean causality.

The biological model suggests this is explained by brain dysfunction causing the OCD.

just a correlation which does not necessarily indicate a causal relationship. OCD might cause the abnormal brain function.