explaining ocd

Question 1

biological component %

Answer 1

genetic explanation = mental illnesses e.g ocd = heritable
-lewis 1936 , observed , 37% of ocd patients have parents with ocd, and 21% had siblings with ocd,

ocd runs in families ,
- whats passed down generations is genetic vulnerability, not certainty of ocd

Question 2

what has reserach found about specfic genes

Answer 2

• research found ,specific genes which creates vulnerability for ocd by affecting neurotransmitter levels

serotonin and dopamine

Question 3

serotonin ocd

Answer 3

low serotonin levels = ocd symptoms
- 5HT1-D beta gene effects serotonin transmissions by reducing serotonin levels in synapse
- serotonin = regulates mood/anxiety = lower levels = obsessive thoughts, compulsive behaviour

Question 4

dopamine ocd

Answer 4

high dopamine = ocd symptoms
- comt gene , found more frequently in ocd patients, leads to increased dopamine
- excessive dopamine = reward seeking/complusive behaviours

Question 5

genetic explanation polygenic

Answer 5

ocd = polygenic , not caused by one single gene , but combination of loads

Taylor 2013, found up to 230 genes that may contribute to ocd

diff types of ocd , one group of genes= cause for 1 patient but not the other. ,

Question 6

neural explanations

Answer 6

dopamine = high dose of drugs that boost it = induce compulsive behaviour seen in ocd

antidepressants that increase serotonin = reduce symptoms of ocd (pigottt 1990)

Question 7

strength , evidence

Answer 7

p- supporting evidence

e-nestadt et al , 68% of mz twins both had ocd compared to 31% of dz twins

e- diff between mz and dz suggests theres a genetic infleucen , since mz share 100% of genes

l- increases validity , shows that ocd can be partly explained by inherited factors

Question 8

limitation , too many genes

Answer 8

p- too many genes have been linked

e- psychologist = haven’t been able to clearly identify which genes are responsible for ocd

e- bc lots of diff genes seemed to be involved , and each one only slightly increases a persons risk of developing ocd

l- means genetic explanation = less useful , bc it can’t accurately predict who will or wont develop ocd

Question 9

limitation , environment

Answer 9

p- ignore role of environment

e- twin studies = assume that identical twins who share 10% gene = more likely to develop ocd bc they have same genetic makeup, BUT they also grew up in same environment , so shared same life expierneces etc

e- meaning environmental factors may also play role in developing ocd

l- only genetic explanation = not fully explain ocd

Question 10

strength , ssri

Answer 10

p- theory supported by drug therapy
e- ssri = increases serotonin levels , effective in reducing ocd symptoms
e- so suggests that low serotonin lvls are linked to ocd
l- supports neural explanation