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2023-2025 Year 12 A-Level Psychology > Psychopathology: The Biological Approach To Explaining and Treating OCD TW > Flashcards

Psychopathology: The Biological Approach To Explaining and Treating OCD TW Flashcards

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1
Q

Name 3 biological approaches to explaining OCD

A

Genetic
Neurochemical
Neuroanatomy

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2
Q

Undesirable genes are known as…

A

Maladaptive genes

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3
Q

Name 2 maladaptive genes which have been linked with OCD

A

SERT and COMT

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4
Q

The SERT gene affects the activity levels of which neurochemical?

A

Serotonin

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5
Q

The COMT gene affects the activity levels of which neurochemical?

A

Dopamine

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6
Q

Serotonin activity levels have been associated with which characteristic of OCD?

A

Anxiety

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7
Q

Dopamine activity levels have been associated with which characteristic of OCD?

A

Compulsions

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8
Q

What is meant by ‘concordance rates’ when looking at twin studies?

A

The likelihood of two people who share the same genes will develop the same disorder

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9
Q

Monozygotic twins, are also known as what type of twins?

A

Identical

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10
Q

Dizygotic twins are also known as what type of twins?

A

Non-identical

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11
Q

Monozygotic twins have been found to have what % of concordance for OCD?

A

87 %

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12
Q

Dizygotic twins have been found to have what % of concordance of OCD?

A

47 %

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13
Q

Specific genes which cause vulnerability to OCD are referred to as…

A

Candidate genes - a gene that has been associated with a particular trait or disorder.

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14
Q

What is the relationship between genetic closeness and the likelihood of developing OCD?

A

The closer the genetic link to a person with OCD, the increased likelihood of that a person develop OCD

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15
Q

The SERT gene is involved in what process of serotonin?

A

Transportation

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16
Q

The COMT gene is involved in which process for dopamine in the brain?

A

Regulation

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17
Q

What is meant by ‘neurochemicals’?

A

Chemicals in the brain which help to send messages

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18
Q

The neurochemical explanation of OCD would suggest this disorder is caused by an ______________ in neurochemicals?

A

Imbalance

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19
Q

What is the function of serotonin?

A

Maintaining a stable mood / mood regulator

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20
Q

What kind of SERT gene causes serotonin to be recycled too quickly?

A

A mutated SERT gene

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21
Q

The gap between two neurons is known as…

A

The synapse

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22
Q

What is meant by ‘the synapse’

A

The gap between the presynaptic neuron and the post synaptic neuron

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23
Q

A mutation of the SERT gene causes what to happen to serotonin?

A

It becomes recycled / reuptaken too quickly

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24
Q

How does fast reuptake of serotonin affect serotonin activity levels?

A

It reduces activity levels because it is removed before it can activate the post synaptic neuron.

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25
Q

LOW serotonin activity causes …

A

HIGH anxiety

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26
Q

Neurochemicals are recycled by which part of a neuron?

A

The reuptake transporters

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27
Q

Reuptake transporters are located where in the synapse?

A

The presynaptic neuron

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28
Q

Reuptake occurs in which part of the synapse?

A

The presynaptic neuron

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29
Q

What are located on the membrane of the post synaptic neuron?

A

Receptors/Receptor sites

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30
Q

Before being released into the synapse, neurochemicals are found inside of ________________ within the presynaptic neuron

A

Vesicles

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31
Q

How does the SERT gene influence neurochemistry in the brain?

A

Reducing ACTIVITY LEVELS of serotonin

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32
Q

What is meant by the term ‘neuroanatomy’ in regards to OCD?

A

Differences in shape, size and function of specific brain areas leads to OCD

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33
Q

What part of the brain has been associated with OCD?

A

Basal ganglia

34
Q

What function is the basal ganglia responsible for?

A

Psychomotor functions

35
Q

What is the difference between the basal ganglia of a typical individual, and the basal ganglia of someone with OCD?

A

Those with OCD have a hypersensitive basal ganglia

36
Q

What abnormality of the basal ganglia has been linked to OCD?

A

Hypersensitivity

37
Q

Hypersensitivity of the basal ganglia has been associated with which characteristic of OCD?

A

Compulsions

38
Q

Hypersensitivity of the basal ganglia has been associated with what behaviour?

A

Repetitive movements

39
Q

Hypersensitivity in which neuroanatomical structure is associated with OCD?

A

Basal ganglia

40
Q

Why is the genetic explanation of OCD reductionist?

A

It reduces complex human behaviour of OCD into simple basic units of MUTATED GENES e.g. SERT and ignoring holism

41
Q

Why can the neuroanatomical explanation of OCD be considered reductionist?

A

It reduces complex human behaviour of OCD into simple basic units of HYPERSENSITIVITY IN BRAIN AREAS e.g. basal ganglia ignoring holism.

42
Q

Why can the neurochemical explanation of OCD be considered reductionist?

A

It reduces complex human behaviour of OCD into simple basic units of SEROTONIN / DOPAMINE IMBALANCE, ignoring holism.

43
Q

What is one strength that neuronatomical and genetic explanations of OCD share?

A

They use objective and empirical scientific methods

44
Q

What scientific method is used to investigate neuroanatomical structures associated with OCD?

A

Brain scans

45
Q

Why are brain scans considered a scientific method?

A

As they are objective and empirical

46
Q

What is meant by ‘objective’?

A

Factual

47
Q

What is meant by the term ‘empirical’

A

Observable

48
Q

Biological explanations of OCD ignore what type of approach?

A

Holistic

49
Q

Which biological explanation of OCD has led to practical applications?

A

Neurochemical

50
Q

What practical application has the neurochemical explanation of OCD led to?

A

Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors

51
Q

SSRI’s are what type of treatment for OCD?

A

Drug treatment

52
Q

Research to support the genetic explanation of OCD has been conducted by…

A

Carey + Gottsman

53
Q

Name 3 evaluative points you could use to answer this question;

“Outline and evaluate the biological approach to explaining OCD (16 marks)”

A
  1. Biological reduction
  2. Scientific methods
  3. Practical applications
54
Q

What is the aim of drug therapy to treat OCD?

A

To balance neurochemicals in the brain to relieve symptoms of OCD

55
Q

The acronym ‘SSRI’s’ stands for what…?

A

Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors

56
Q

What neurochemical do SSRI’s work upon?

A

Serotonin

57
Q

SSRI’s are known as a serotonin ___________

A

Agonist

58
Q

Do SSRI’s decrease or increase serotonin activity levels in the brain?

A

Increase

59
Q

How do SSRI’s increase serotonin activity levels in the brain?

A

By blocking the reuptake of serotonin

60
Q

SSRI’s block the reuptake of serotonin into which neuron?

A

The presynaptic neuron

61
Q

A student has written the following statement;

“SSRI’s block the reuptake of serotonin in the post synaptic neuron”

Is this correct or incorrect, and why?

A

Incorrect - the blocking of reuptake occurs in the presynaptic neuron

62
Q

SSRI’s relieve which symptom of OCD?

A

Anxiety

63
Q

SSRI’s work to reduce anxiety levels in those with OCD. What type of characteristic is this?

A

Emotional

64
Q

What emotional characteristic do SSRI’s reduce?

A

Anxiety

65
Q

How long does it take for SSRI’s to begin to alleviate symptoms of OCD?

A

3 - 4 months

66
Q

SSRI’s belong to what category of drug therapy?

A

Anti-depressants

67
Q

What is the acronym for a new class of anti-depressant medication - which is used when SSRI’s are ineffective?

A

SNRI’s

68
Q

The acronym ‘SNRI’s’ stands for…

A

Serotonin Norepinephrine Reuptake Inhibitors

69
Q

What do both SSRI’s and SNRI’s do the reuptake of serotonin in the brain?

A

Block reuptake

70
Q

Name one reason why SSRI’s may be a more appropriate therapy for OCD

A

As they require little motivation and commitment

71
Q

Name one reason why SSRI’s may not be an appropriate treatment for OCD

A

Side effects

72
Q

Name 3 side effects of SSRI’s

A

Headaches, nausea and insomnia

73
Q

“Side effects limit the ______________ of SSRI’s to treat OCD”

A

Appropriateness

74
Q

Soomro concluded that SSRI’s were an __________ treatment for OCD

A

Effective

75
Q

Name 2 maladaptive genes associated with OCD

A

SERT + COMT

76
Q

A natural risk to OCD is referred to as having a…

A

Genetic predisposition

77
Q

What is meant by ‘genetic predisposition’ to OCD?

A

Having a natural risk to OCD

78
Q

A student has written the following statement:

“The SERT gene reduces serotonin levels in the brain”

Is this correct, or incorrect - and why?

A

Incorrect - the SERT gene reduces serotonin activity levels

79
Q

The symptom of anxiety is linked with which characteristic of OCD?

A

Obsessions

80
Q

What is meant by ‘obsessions’

A

Internal, intrusive thoughts which cause anxiety

81
Q

What is meant by ‘compulsions’ ?

A

External, repetitive behaviours which are performed to reduce anxiety

2023-2025 Year 12 A-Level Psychology (44 decks)

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