The biological approach to: explaining OCD Flashcards
The genes associated with OCD are likely to affect the levels of key _________________ as well as…
neurotransmitters, structures of the brain
What is serotonin believed to help regulate?
Mood
What are neurotransmitters responsible for?
Relaying information from one neuron to another
What happens in the brain if a person has low levels of serotonin?
Normal transmission of mood-relevant information doesn’t take place
What may a person experience as a result of low levels of serotonin
Low moods and other mental processes being affected
True/False: At least some cases of OCD may be explained by a reduction in the functioning of the serotonin system in the brain
True
True/False: Some cases of OCD seem to be associated with impaired decision-making
True
Which disorder in particular related to OCD seems to be associated with impaired decision-making?
Hoarding disorder
Some cases of OCD seem to be associated with impaired decision-making. Which part of the brain may this in turn be associated with?
Abnormal functioning of the lateral (side bits) of the frontal lobes of the brain
Frontal lobes
Frontal part of the brain that are responsible for logical thinking and making decisions, located behind your forehead
There is also evidence to suggest than an area called what functions abnormally in OCD?
The parahippocampal gyrus
What is the parahippocampal gyrus associated with?
Unpleasant emotions
Give an example of supporting evidence for neural explanations of schizophrenia
Any from antidepressants that work purely on serotonin are effective in reducing OCD symptoms and OCD symptoms form part of conditions that are known to be biological in origin (Parkinson’s disease)
Antidepressants that work purely on serotonin are effective in reducing OCD symptoms. How does this support neural explanations?
Suggests that serotonin may be involved in OCD
What’s the main argument against the involvement of serotonin in OCD
The serotonin-OCD link may not be unique to OCD - many people with OCD also experience clinical depression (co-morbidity)
Co-morbidity
Having two disorders together
Many people with OCD also experience clinical what?
Depression
What’s the problem with many people with OCD also experiencing clinical depression when it comes to evaluating the effectiveness of antidepressants for OCD?
This depression probably involves disruption to the action of serotonin - it could simply be that serotonin activity is disrupted in many people with OCD
Depression involving disruption to the action of serotonin leaves us with a logical problem when it comes to…
serotonin as a possible basis for OCD
True/False: OCD symptoms form part of conditions that are known to be biological in origin
True
Give an example of a condition that’s known to be biological in origin which’s symptoms include symptoms of OCD
Parkinson’s disease
If a biological disorder produces OCD symptoms then we may assume…
the biological processes underlie OCD
The fact that a biological disorder such as Parkinson’s disease produces OCD symptoms suggests…
that biological factors may be responsible for OCD (e.g. serotonin and the processes underlying certain disorders)
There is evidence to show that some ______ systems do not work normally in people with OCD
neural