The biological approach to explaining OCD Flashcards
1
Q
What does OCD stand for
A
Obsessive compulsive disorder
2
Q
State what compulsion & obsession mean
A
Compulsion: Creates unpleasant thoughts that cause a great deal of anxiety
Obsession: Creates unpleasant thoughts that cause a great deal of anxiety
3
Q
State what genetical explanations involved with OCD
A
- Inherited specific genes from parents related to OCD
4
Q
What are the specific genes inherited from parents that could cause OCD
A
- The COMT gene
- The SERT gene
5
Q
State what the COMT gene is
A
- Contributes to OCD
- Regulates production of dopamine
- Lower activity of COMT gene leads to higher levels of dopamine
6
Q
State the role of Serotonin in OCD
A
- Help regulate mood
- Regulates anxiety
- Low levels of serotonin lead to
> Normal transmission of mood-relevant information does not take place
> Other mental processes are affected
7
Q
State what the SERT gene is
A
- Affects transport of serotonin
- Creates lower levels of serotonin
8
Q
What are the neural explanations to OCD
A
- Changes in genes that could impact functioning of neural systems
9
Q
How are our Decision making systems affected with OCD
A
- Abnormal functioning of the frontal lobes of the brain
> Responsible for logical and decision making
