Psychopathology - biological approach to EXPLAINING OCD

Question 1

What are the 2 forms of explanaitons

Answer 1

neural
genetic

Question 2

genes are involved in indiviudal vulnerability to

Answer 2

OCD

Question 3

what are gentic explantions of ocd

2 points

suggest….

Answer 3

Genetic explanations suggest OCD is inherited and

individuals inherit specific genes which cause OCD

Question 4

what study shows us genes invlved ing enetic vulerability of OCD

Answer 4

Lewis observed of his ocd patients

37% got parents with OCD
21% got siblings with OCD

Question 5

what does LEwis study obsv of ocd in his patients suggest

Answer 5

OCD runs in families

but whats porbably passed on from one gen to next

is genetic vulneerabliry not cetainity of OCD

Question 6

according to diathesis stress model for OCD

certain genes

Answer 6

leave some people more likely to developn a menal disorder

but its not certain

some environmentla stress(experience) is necessary to trigger condition

Question 7

what are candidiate genes in terms of OCD

Answer 7

particular genes which create a vulnrabiity for OCD

Question 8

What are candiate gens inovled in in terms of ocd

Answer 8

regulaitng the development of serotinin systems

Question 9

What are candiate gens inovled in in terms of ocd

+ give an example

Answer 9

some involved in regulating development of serotonin

e.g gene 5HT1-D beta is implicated in transport of serotinin across syanpses

Question 10

OCD is a certain type of adjective used to descire genes

Answer 10

polygenic

Question 11

OCD is a certain type of adjective used to descire genes

Answer 11

polygenic

Question 12

ocd being polygenic means

Answer 12

ocd is caused by a combo of genes that together significantly increase vulnerability

rather than one single gene

Question 13

OCD POLYGENIC - taylor analsyed

Answer 13

findings of previosu studes

Question 14

OCD POLYGENIC - taylor analysed findings of previosu studies what did he find

Answer 14

eviednce up to 230 differnet genes may be involved with OCD

Question 15

OCD POLYGENIC - Genes studied in relation to OCD include

Answer 15

those assocaited with actions of dopmaine and serotonin

SERT and COMT

Question 16

OCD POLYGENIC - whihc neurtotransmitters are believed to ahve a role in regulaitng mood

Answer 16

dopamine and setotoning

Question 17

different types of OCD - one group of genes may cause OCD in one person but a differnt …

Answer 17

but a differnt group of genes may cause disorder in another person

Question 18

different types of OCD - what is aetiologically heterogeneous

Answer 18

origins of OCD vary from one person another

Question 19

different types of OCD - theres is evidence to sugets different types of OCD may be the result of

Answer 19

particular genetic variations

e.g hoarding disorder

religious obsession

Question 20

what are neural explanaitons

Answer 20

Neural explanations of OCD focus on neurotransmitters as well as brain structures.

Question 21

ROLE OF SEROTININ - one explantion for OCD concerns the roel of neurotransmitter

Answer 21

serotonin

Question 22

ROLE OF SEROTININ - what is serotonin belived to do

Answer 22

help regulate mood

Question 23

ROLE OF SEROTININ - neurotransmitters are responsible for

Answer 23

relaying info from one neuron to another

Question 24

ROLE OF SEROTININ - if a person ha slow levels of setotinin what happens

Answer 24

normal transmission of mood relelvant info dont take place and a person may xp low moods

+ othe rmentla processes may be affected

Question 25

ROLE OF SEROTININ - at least some cases of OCD may be explained by

Answer 25

reduciton in functioning of serotinin system in the brain

Question 26

DECISION MAKING SYSTEMS - some cases of OCD in particular hoarding disorder seem to be associaed with

Answer 26

impaired descison making

Question 27

DECISION MAKING SYSTEMS - impaired descisoin making may be associated with

Answer 27

abnormal functioning of the lateral of the frontal lobes of the brain

Question 28

DECISION MAKING SYSTEMS - what does lateral mean

Answer 28

side bits

Question 29

DECISION MAKING SYSTEMS - the frontal lobes of the brian are hte which part of your brian

Answer 29

front part of brain behind your forehead

Question 30

DECISION MAKING SYSTEMS - frontal lobes are resposbible for

Answer 30

logical thinking and making descisions

Question 31

DECISION MAKING SYSTEMS - theres also evidence to suggest the left parrahippocampal gyrus which is associated with : functions ...

Answer 31

processing unpleasant emotions functions abnormally in OCD

Question 32

STRENGHT - SUPPORTING EVIDENCE FOR GENES

Answer 32

hay evidence from variety of sources for the idea people are vulnerable to OCD as a result of their genetic make up one of best sources of evidence for importance of genes is twin studies nestadt et al reviewed previosu twin studies and found 68% of identical twins shared OCD as opposed to 31% of non identical twins this strongly suggests a geentic influcne on ocd

Question 33

SUPPORTING EVIDENCE FOR ENVIRONMENTLA RISK FACTORS - genes - can be limitaiton if dont mention diathesis stress

Answer 33

research support for impact f enviro factors that can act as trigger or increase risk of developing OCD e.g researcehrs found over half of OCD patients in sample ahd traumatic event in oast and cod was more severe in patitents with more than one truama suggests ocd may not be entirley genetic in orging or at least not in all cases may therfore be more productive to focsu on enviro causes as were more able to do something about theses

Question 34

LIMIATION OF NEURAL EXPLANATION - *issues of causation*

Answer 34

theres issue with understanding neural mechanisms involved in OCD While thres evidence which suggests certain neural systems dont function normally in patients suffering from OCD e.g orbifrontal cortex research has also identified other areas in the brain that are occasionally involved as well this means theres no brian system whihc has consistently been found to play a role in OCD So although tehrees evidence that neuro transmitters and brian structures are implicated , it must not be concluded there is a casue and effect relationship as its difficult to ascertain whether the biological abnormalitiies seen are a casue of OCD or result of the disorder

Question 35

strength of neural explanation

Answer 35

supporting evidence for role of some neural mechansims in OCD e.g antidepressants that work purely on serotonin system increasing elvel of this neurotransmitter are effective in reducing OCD symptoms and this suggests that the serotonin system may be involved in OCD also OCD symptoms form part of biological conditions such as parkinsons disease this therfore suggets that the biological processes taht cause symptoms in those conditions may also be responsbile for OCD