explaining OCD: biological approach Flashcards
What does OCD stand for?
Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder
What type of explanation suggests OCD is largely biological in nature?
Genetic explanation
What did Aubrey Lewis (1936) find about OCD and family history?
37% of OCD patients had parents with OCD and 21% had siblings with OCD
What is genetic vulnerability in OCD?
The idea that genes increase the likelihood of developing OCD but do not guarantee it
What model suggests both genes and environment play a role in OCD?
Diathesis-stress model
What are candidate genes?
Genes identified as creating vulnerability to OCD
Which neurotransmitter system is often implicated in OCD?
Serotonin system
What is the 5HT1-D beta gene associated with?
Regulation of serotonin across synapses
What does it mean that OCD is polygenic?
OCD is influenced by many genes, not just one
How many genes did Steven Taylor (2013) suggest may be involved in OCD?
Up to 230 different genes
What does heterogeneous mean in the context of OCD?
Origins of OCD vary from person to person
What evidence supports the genetic explanation for OCD?
Twin studies showing higher concordance rates in identical twins
What did Nestadt et al. (2010) find in twin studies about OCD?
68% of identical twins shared OCD compared to 31% of non-identical twins
What is one limitation of the genetic model of OCD?
Environmental risk factors also play a role
What did Kiara Cromer et al. (2007) find about trauma and OCD?
Over half of OCD clients had experienced a traumatic event
What does the presence of environmental risk factors suggest about OCD?
Genetic vulnerability only partially explains OCD
What is a difficulty in using animal studies for OCD research?
Human brains and behavior are more complex than those of animals
What is a neural explanation for OCD?
Genes affect levels of neurotransmitters and brain structures
What role does serotonin play in OCD?
Low levels may reduce normal mood regulation, contributing to OCD symptoms
What brain area is linked to decision-making issues in OCD?
Frontal lobes
What is the left parahippocampal gyrus associated with in OCD?
Processing unpleasant emotions abnormally
How do antidepressants support the neural model of OCD?
They reduce OCD symptoms by affecting serotonin
What is a limitation of the serotonin-OCD link?
It may not be unique to OCD and could be related to depression
What is comorbidity?
Having two disorders together, such as OCD and depression
