biological approach to OCD

Question 1

Genetic explanations

Answer 1

• Genes are involved in vulnerability to ocd
• Lewis observed ocd patients 37% had parents with ocd and 32% had siblings with ocd
• The vulnerability is passed on not ocd itself
• Diathesis stress model shows certain people are more likely to develop certain mental disorders
• Environmental stress is necessary to trigger it

Question 2

how are genes involved with OCD

Answer 2

they effect the vulnerablity

Question 3

true or false: OCD is passed on

Answer 3

false

it is the vulnerability thats passed on

Question 4

diathesis stress

Answer 4

the theory that mental and physical disorders develop from a genetic combined with stressful conditions

Question 5

whats the analogy for OCD

Answer 5

Genetics loads the gun and the environment pulls the trigger

Question 6

candidate genes

Answer 6

• Certain genes have been identified for creating a vulnerability to ocd
• Some of these genes involved regulating serotonin levels 5ht1-d beta transports serotonin across the synapses
• Ocd is polygenic. This means more than one gene is involved it is created by a combination of genetic variations. These combinations increase vulnerability
• Taylor identified 230 genes that are involved with ocd

Question 7

taylor identified what?

Answer 7

Taylor identified 230 genes that are involved with ocd

Question 8

lewis observed ocd patients and found

Answer 8

37% had parents with ocd and 32% had siblings with ocd

Question 9

what is 5ht1-d beta?

Answer 9

transports serotonin across the synapses

Question 10

true or false: ocd is polygentic

Answer 10

true

Question 11

polygenic

Answer 11

• Created by a combination of genetic variations
• These combinations increase vulnerability

Question 12

true or false: low serotonin can cause ocd symptoms

Answer 12

true

for some cases

Question 13

Different types of ocd

Answer 13

• One group of genes may cause ocd in one person and a different group may cause it in another person
• Origins of ocd vary from one person to another
• Different types of ocd may be the result of genetic variations

Question 14

true or false: orgins of ocd can not vary from one person to another

Answer 14

false

Question 15

true or false: the same group of genes cause ocd in people

Answer 15

false

one group of genes may cause ocd in one person and another group may cause it in another person

Question 16

Neural explanations

Answer 16

• Genes associated with ocd affect the levels of neurotransmitters. They also affect the brain structure
• Low levels of neurotransmitters = low levels of serotonin
• Some cases of ocd can be explained by low levels of serotonin or by impaired decision making
• Linked to abnormal functioning of the lateral frontal lobes
• Frontal lobes are responsible for logical thinking and decision making
• Left parahippocampal guru functions and abnormally in ocd

Question 17

what is the role of neurotramsitters

Answer 17

transfer information between neurons

Question 18

what are the effects of low serotonin?

Answer 18

Low levels of serotonin > mood relevant information does not transmit normally = low mood

Question 19

true or false: genes associated with ocd do not effect the levels of neurotransmitters

Answer 19

false

they do effect the levels of neurotransmitters

Question 20

cocordance rate

Answer 20

The probability that a pair of individuals will both have a certain characteristic, given that one of the pair has the characteristic.

Question 21

serotonin

Answer 21

controls your mood

Question 22

strengths of the biological approach

Answer 22

• Lots of research links ocd vulnerability to genetic makeup Nestadt conducted a twin study 68% of MZ twins shared OCD as opposed to 31% of DZ twins. family studies suggest 4 times more likely to have ocd if a relative has it. This increases the validity of the theory, suggesting that OCD can be partly explained by genetics
• Antidepressants alter serotonin levels this reduces ocd sometimes

Question 23

mz twins

Answer 23

identical twins

Question 24

dz twins

Answer 24

non identical

Question 25

imitations of the biological approach

Answer 25

There are also environmental factors. Cromer half ocd clients had previously suffered trauma he also found that the worse the trauma the worse the ocd. twins grow up in the same environment. If the environment also contributes to OCD then a genetic explanation lacks fully explanatory power People with ocd often have depression this means serotonin levels activity may be due to the depression not the ocd Pato et al states there is insufficient understanding of the actual genetic mechanisms surrounding OCD this means that a genetic explanation alone may lack validity