The Biological Approach to Explaining OCD Flashcards
(12 cards)
1
Q
What is the ‘Biological Approach’?
A
- A perspective that emphasizes the importance of physical processes int heh body such as a genetic inheritance and neural functions.
2
Q
What is the ‘Genetic explanation’?
A
- Genes consist of DNA which codes for the physical and psychological features of an organism.
- It explains how mental conditions may be inherited.
3
Q
What is the ‘Neural explanation’?
A
- The view that physical and psychological characteristics are determined by the beaviour of the nervous system, the brain and the CNS.
4
Q
What is ‘Serotonin’?
A
- A Neurotransmitter
- It prevents neurons from firing
- It is responsible for regulating mood - known as the happy hormone - if you have low levels of Serotonin, mood is often low and unregular.
5
Q
What is ‘Dopamine’?
A
- A Neurotransmitter
- Which has different effects of the body depending and which receptor it binds to and in which area of the brain.
- It is involved in the brain’s pleasure system.
6
Q
How is ‘Serotonin’ thought to play a part in OCD?
A
- Some cases are explained by a reduction in the functioning of he Serotonin system in the brain, meaning that less is produced.
- Low serotonin levels means that normal transmissions of the mood relevant information between neurons does not take place. Therefore mood and other menta processes are impacted.
7
Q
How is ‘Dopamine’ thought to play a part in OCD?
A
- Levels are thought to be abnormally high in people with OCD
- This maintains people with OCD to allow their obsessive compulsions to happen which rewards the brain’s pleasure system.
8
Q
How do ‘Genes’ explain OCD?
A
- It states that gene can be inherited from parents which creates genetic vulnerability to developing OCD (just because someone has this gene, doesn’t mean they will develop it).
9
Q
What does the 5-HT1-D beta gene do and how does it relate to OCD?
A
- Can cause slower levels of serotonin as it is implicated int eh transports across the synapses.
10
Q
What does the COMT gene do and how does it relate to OCD?
A
- It is responsible for clearing dopamine from synapses. Low activity of the COMT gene means higher levels of Dopamine.
11
Q
What does ‘Polygenic’ mean?
A
- Means that it is not caused by one singular gene but rather a combination of genetic variations.
- Taylor found that up to 230 different genes may be involved in OCD.
12
Q
What does ‘Aetiologically Heterogenous’ mean and how does it relate to OCD?
A
- Means that the origin of OCD has different causes
