YR 12 Psychopathology: The Biological Approach To Explaining and Treating OCD

Question 1

Name 3 biological approaches to explaining OCD

Answer 1

Genetic
Neurochemical
Neuroanatomy

Question 2

Undesirable genes are known as…

Answer 2

Maladaptive genes

Question 3

Name 2 maladaptive genes which have been linked with OCD

Answer 3

SERT and COMT

Question 4

The SERT gene affects the activity levels of which neurochemical?

Answer 4

Serotonin

Question 5

The COMT gene affects the activity levels of which neurochemical?

Answer 5

Dopamine

Question 6

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

Answer 6

Anxiety

Question 7

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

Answer 7

Compulsions

Question 8

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

Answer 8

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

Question 9

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

Answer 9

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

Question 10

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

Answer 10

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

Question 11

The SERT gene is involved in what process of serotonin?

Answer 11

Transportation

Question 12

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

Answer 12

Regulation

Question 13

What is meant by ‘neurochemicals’?

Answer 13

Chemicals in the brain which help to send messages

Question 14

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

Answer 14

Imbalance

Question 15

What is the function of serotonin?

Answer 15

Maintaining a stable mood / mood regulator

Question 16

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

Answer 16

A mutated SERT gene

Question 17

The gap between two neurons is known as…

Answer 17

The synapse

Question 18

What is meant by ‘the synapse’

Answer 18

The gap between the presynaptic neuron and the post synaptic neuron

Question 19

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

Answer 19

It becomes recycled / reuptaken too quickly

Question 20

How does fast reuptake of serotonin affect serotonin activity levels?

Answer 20

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

Question 21

LOW serotonin activity causes …

Answer 21

HIGH anxiety

Question 22

Neurochemicals are recycled by which part of a neuron?

Answer 22

The reuptake transporters

Question 23

Reuptake transporters are located where in the synapse?

Answer 23

The presynaptic neuron

Question 24

Reuptake occurs in which part of the synapse?

Answer 24

The presynaptic neuron

Question 25

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

Answer 25

Receptors/Receptor sites

Question 26

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

Answer 26

Vesicles

Question 27

How does the SERT gene influence neurochemistry in the brain?

Answer 27

Reducing ACTIVITY LEVELS of serotonin

Question 28

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

Answer 28

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

Question 29

What part of the brain has been associated with OCD?

Answer 29

Parahippocampal gyrus

Question 30

What function is the parahippocampal gyrus responsible for?

Answer 30

Processing unpleasant emotions

Question 31

Which lobe is showing abnormal functioning in people with OCD?

Answer 31

Frontal

Question 32

What are the frontal lobes responsible for?

Answer 32

Logical thinking and decision making

Question 33

**Why** is the genetic explanation of OCD reductionist?

Answer 33

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

Question 34

Why can the neurochemical explanation of OCD be considered reductionist?

Answer 34

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

Question 35

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

Answer 35

They use objective and empirical scientific methods

Question 36

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

Answer 36

Brain scans

Question 37

Why are brain scans considered a scientific method?

Answer 37

As they are objective and empirical

Question 38

What is meant by ‘objective’?

Answer 38

Factual

Question 39

What is meant by the term ‘empirical’

Answer 39

Observable

Question 40

Biological explanations of OCD ignore what type of approach?

Answer 40

Holistic

Question 41

Which biological explanation of OCD has led to practical applications?

Answer 41

Neurochemical

Question 42

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

Answer 42

**S**elective **S**erotonin **R**euptake **I**nhibitors

Question 43

SSRI's are what type of treatment for OCD?

Answer 43

Drug treatment

Question 44

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

Answer 44

Gerald

Question 45

Name **3** evaluative points you could use to answer this question; “Outline and evaluate the biological approach to explaining OCD (16 marks)”

Answer 45

1. Biological reduction 2. Scientific methods 3. Practical applications

Question 46

What is the aim of drug therapy to treat OCD?

Answer 46

To balance neurochemicals in the brain to relieve symptoms of OCD

Question 47

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

Answer 47

Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors

Question 48

What neurochemical do SSRI's work upon?

Answer 48

Serotonin

Question 49

SSRI's are known as a serotonin \_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_

Answer 49

Agonist

Question 50

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

Answer 50

Increase

Question 51

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

Answer 51

By blocking the reuptake of serotonin

Question 52

SSRI's block the reuptake of serotonin into **which** neuron?

Answer 52

The presynaptic neuron

Question 53

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?**

Answer 53

Incorrect - the blocking of reuptake occurs in the presynaptic neuron

Question 54

SSRI's relieve which symptom of OCD?

Answer 54

Anxiety

Question 55

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

Answer 55

Emotional

Question 56

What emotional characteristic do SSRI's reduce?

Answer 56

Anxiety

Question 57

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

Answer 57

3 - 4 months

Question 58

SSRI's belong to what category of drug therapy?

Answer 58

Anti-depressants

Question 59

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

Answer 59

SNRI's

Question 60

The acronym ‘SNRI’s' stands for…

Answer 60

Serotonin Norepinephrine Reuptake Inhibitors

Question 61

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

Answer 61

Block reuptake

Question 62

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

Answer 62

As they require little motivation and commitment

Question 63

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

Answer 63

Side effects

Question 64

Name 3 side effects of SSRI's

Answer 64

Headaches, nausea and insomnia

Question 65

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

Answer 65

Appropriateness

Question 66

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

Answer 66

Effective

Question 67

Name 2 maladaptive genes associated with OCD

Answer 67

SERT + COMT

Question 68

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

Answer 68

Genetic predisposition

Question 69

What is meant by ‘genetic predisposition’ to OCD?

Answer 69

Having a natural risk to OCD

Question 70

A student has written the following statement: "The SERT gene reduces serotonin levels in the brain" **Is this correct, or incorrect - and why?**

Answer 70

Incorrect - the SERT gene reduces serotonin **activity** levels

Question 71

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

Answer 71

Obsessions

Question 72

What is meant by ‘obsessions’

Answer 72

Internal, intrusive thoughts which cause anxiety

Question 73

What is meant by ‘compulsions’ ?

Answer 73

External, repetitive behaviours which are performed to reduce anxiety