Psychopathology - Genetic Explanations for OCD

Question 1

Concordance rate

Answer 1

A measure of genetic similarity

Question 2

Neurotransmitter

Answer 2

A chemical that transmits impulses across a synapse

Question 3

Gene

Answer 3

Part of chromosome that carries information in form of DNA

Question 4

Dopamine

Answer 4

Key neurotransmitter in the brain which effects motivation and drive

Question 5

Serotonin

Answer 5

Neurotransmitter which regulates mood

Question 6

Diathesis stress model

Answer 6

Particular gene may predispose you to get particular disorder but it had to be triggered by environmental factor

Question 7

Biological, genetic explanation for OCD

Answer 7

Inherited from your parents via genes

Question 8

Biological, neural explanation for OCD

Answer 8

Certain neurotransmitters and structures of the brain are concerned with OCD

Question 9

What has been implicated as a possible cause for OCD?

Answer 9

A number of candidate genes

Question 10

What is a candidate gene?

Answer 10

A potential gene that may be responsible

Question 11

How did Taylor find out that OCD is polygenic?

Answer 11

He identified up to 230 candidate genes for OCD

Question 12

What does the COMT gene help to reduce?

Answer 12

Action of dopamine

Question 13

What is the COMT gene associated with?

Answer 13

Production of an enzyme which regulates function of dopamine

Question 14

What does a variation in the COMT gene decrease the amount of?

Answer 14

COMT available meaning dopamine isn’t controlled meaning there will probably be too much dopamine

Question 15

What is gene variation more common in?

Answer 15

Patients with OCD

Question 16

What did the COMT gene do in individuals with OCD?

Answer 16

Mutate

Question 17

What does the SERT gene do?

Answer 17

Affects transport of serotonin

Question 18

What does the SERT gene create?

Answer 18

Low levels of serotonin

Question 19

What have low levels of serotonin been implicated with?

Answer 19

OCD

Question 20

What does mutation of SERT Gene cause?

Answer 20

Increase in transporter proteins at a neuron’s membrane

Question 21

What does an increase in transporter proteins result in?

Answer 21

Less binding resulting in lower amounts of serotonin

Question 22

What is a meta-analysis?

Answer 22

A study combining results of lots of studies

Question 23

What did Billett et al carry out?

Answer 23

A meta-analysis of 14 twin studies

Question 24

What did Billett find?

Answer 24

On average, MZ twins are twice as likely to develop OCD than DZ twins

Question 25

OCD is polygenic

Answer 25

It isn’t caused by a single gene

Question 26

What is a reduction of dopamine levels positively correlated to?

Answer 26

The reduction of OCD symptoms

Question 27

What don’t genes determine?

Answer 27

Who will develop OCD - they only create vulnerability

Question 28

What shows OCD is due to interaction of genetic and other factors?

Answer 28

Evidence shows concordance rates aren’t 100%

Question 29

How may OCD be culturally transmitted?

Answer 29

Due to observed and replicated behaviours