Biological Explanations - OCD Flashcards

1
Q

What did Strengler and Wenske do?

A

Investigated the availability of brain serotonin transporters in 10 drug-free OCD and age matched controls
- Used single-photon emission computed tomography

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2
Q

What did Strengler and Wenske find?

A

Significantly reduced serotonin transport availability found in those with OCD

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3
Q

What does Strengler and Wenske’s study show?

A

That low serotonin causes OCD

BUT having OCD often leads to depression. Maybe depression is causing low serotonin levels

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4
Q

What does the neuroanatomical explanation suggest?

A

Genes may work by influencing the brains structure

- structural dysfunction in the central nervous system = OCD

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5
Q

What do the Orbitio-frontal cortex (OFC) and the caudate nuclei (in the basal ganglia) do?

A

Form a circuit whose function seems to be to convert sensory info into thoughts and actions

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6
Q

What happens to impulses that arise in the OFC?

A

They are passed to the caudate nuclei which act as filters screening out irrelevant impulses
- most important impulses are passed on to the thalamus

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7
Q

What happens once an impulse has been passed onto the thalamus?

A

The individual is then driven to think more about the impulse and to take action

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8
Q

What happens when the OFC and caudate nuclei are damaged?

A

Inappropriate impulses are not suppressed - the individual is overwhelmed by troublesome thoughts and actions = OCD

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9
Q

What did Wise and Rapoport show?

A

That OCD is often co-morbid with disorders where the basal ganglia are known to be implicated e.g Parkinson’s
= if damage in this area causes Parkinson’s and the individual also has OCD this is the likely cause

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10
Q

What did Piggot et al find?

A

Results from neuro-imaging studies have been encouraging but inconclusive and the basal ganglia impairment has not always been found in OCD patients when compared to controls
= strong biological evidence against - scientific

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11
Q

What did Cortzer find? (Use if just NA)

A

OFC or basal ganglia damage, resulting from head injury/illness such as brain tumours can give rise to OCD
= can be environmental damage not just genes which leads to OCD

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12
Q

How does the Neuro Chemical explanation explain OCD?

A

OCD results from a deficiency in serotonin or a malfunction in serotonin metabolism

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13
Q

What supports the idea that low serotonin can cause OCD?

A

OCD can be relived by anti-depressants - responds to drugs which affect serotonin rather than other neurotransmitters

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14
Q

How can serotonin act as a neuromodulator?

A

Regulates other levels of neurotransmitters - disruption of serotonin effects other levels of neurotransmitters

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