the biological approach to explaining OCD

Question 1

what is obsession?

Answer 1

-unpleasant thoughts which re ocur over and over again

Question 2

what is ‘act’ in ocd?

Answer 2

-repetitive behaviours designed to reduce anxiety caused by OCD

Question 3

how is biological conditioning explaining OCD?

Answer 3

-roots in genetic vulnerability and brain dysfunction

Question 4

how is genetic explanations explaining OCD?

Answer 4

-genes make up chromosomes
-contain DNA
-determines physical and physiology features from parent to offspring

Question 5

how do neural explanations explain OCD?

Answer 5

• determined by nervous system (particularly the brain)

Question 6

strengths of bio approach for OCD

Answer 6

-scientific evidence
-objective
-quick, cheap simple treatments
-allows you to seek help
- removes blame and confusion - due to genes

Question 7

weaknesses of bio approach to OCD

Answer 7

-creates a label
-determinist (can be used to justify bad actions)- only bio factors, little control
-reductionist (ignores other factors), simplify complex behvaiours

Question 8

what are the genetic explanations to OCD according to lewis?

Answer 8

-observed that of his OCD patients, 37% had parents w OCD and 21% siblings w OCD
-runs in families

Question 9

what does the stress diathesis model say about mental disorders?

Answer 9

-certain genes leave people more likely to suffer a mental disorder
-stress can trigger the disorder

Question 10

what is aetiologically heterogenous?

Answer 10

-origin of OCD has many causes
-one group of genes may cause disorder to one person
-but dofferent set of genes cause disorder to another

Question 11

what are candidate genes?

Answer 11

-genes that create vulnerability for OCD
-e.g 5HT1-D is involved in how efficiently serotonin is transported across synapses

Question 12

How is OCD considered polygenic?

Answer 12

-caused by many genes
-Taylor (2013), up 230 diff genes may be involved in OCD
-particulalry that asscoiated with serotonin
and dopmaine- mood regulation

Question 13

evaluation of genetic explanation of OCD
strenghts

Answer 13

(evidence)
-loads of evidence genes make you vulnerbale to OCD
Twin studies:
-Nestadt et al = twin studies found 68% of identical twins shared OCD comapred with 31% of non identical twins(lower concordance rates)
Family studies:
-marnini and stebnicki found an individual with a fmaily member with OCD is around 4x as likely to develop OCD as someone without

Question 14

evaluation of genetic explanation of OCD
limitations

Answer 14

(environment)
-genetic explanations ignore the idea the environemt may increase your risk
-Cromer (2007) found that over half the OCD patients in their sample had a traumatic event in their past
-OCD in those cases was more severe
-idenetical twins dont always share OCD tendecies

(animal studies)
-particular genes are associated with repeatiitve behaviours in other species e.g mice
- but human mind is much more complex than a mice and we cannot generalise from animals repetitve behaviour to human OCD

(candidate genes)
-says that several genes can increase OCD risk
-but it has limited usefulness and predicted value
-scietnist cant look at this and accurately say who will get OCD

Question 15

what are the neural explanations for OCD?

Answer 15

-genes may affect lvl of neurotransmitters in brain
-serotonin -“happy chemical”
-neurotransmitters relay from one neuron to another
-low serotonin levels= normal transmission of mood info doesn’t happen
-OCD caused by reduction in functioning of serotonin system

Question 16

decision making systems and OCD?

Answer 16

• hoarding disorder of OCD often associated with impairment in decision making
  -abnormal function in frontal lobes
  (control logical thinking and decision making)
  -parahippocampal gyrus(process unpleasant emotions) functions abnormally in OCD

Question 17

evaluate neural explanations for Ocd
strenghths
(research support)

Answer 17

-some anti depressants (SSRI’s) are effective in reducing OCD by targeting serotonin system
-serotonin therefore involved in OCD development
-OCD forms part of conditions w biological origin e.g parkinson’s disease
causing muscle tremors and paralysis
-if biological disorder produces OCD symptoms then we can assume the biological process underlie OCD
-biology therefore involved with OCD

Question 18

evaluate neural explanations for Ocd
(limitations )

Answer 18

-serotonin-OCD link may not unique to OCD
-some people also experience depression
-two disorders at the same time so co-morbidity
-serotonin may not solely be relevant to OCD symptoms
-serotonin may just be distorted because they are depressed aswell

(weak evidence)
-shouldn’t assume neural mechanisms cause OCD
- evidence is correlational
-although evidence show neurotransmitters don’t function well w OCD
-not the same as saying functions of the brain cause OCD
-OCD might cause abnormal functioning
-negative correlation, not casual