16. The Biological Approach To Explaining OCD AO1

Question 1

What are the two biological explanations to explaining OCD?

Answer 1

• Genetic explanations

- Neural explanations

Question 2

What are candidate genes?

Answer 2

Genes that researchers have identified as creating a vulnerability for OCD

Question 3

Name two genes present in OCD

Answer 3

• serotonin

- dopamine

Question 4

Give an example of a serotonin gene

Answer 4

5HT1-D

Question 5

Explain serotonin genes

Answer 5

They are implicated in the transmission of serotonin across synapses

Question 6

Explain dopamine genes

Answer 6

They’re also implicated in OCD

Question 7

What do both dopamine and serotonin have in common?

Answer 7

The both neurotransmitters that play a role in regulating mood

Question 8

How many genes are involved in OCD?

Answer 8

Up to 230 different genes may be involved

Question 9

Outline how different types of OCD occur in different people

Answer 9

One group of genes may cause OCD in one person but a different group of genes may cause the disorder in another person

Question 10

What is aetiologically heterogeneous?

Answer 10

One group of genes may cause OCD in one person but a different group of genes may cause the disorder in another person

Question 11

What is it called when one group of genes causes OCD in one person but not in another person?

Answer 11

aetiologically heterogeneous

Question 12

What else is there evidence for in genetic explanations of OCD?

Answer 12

Different types of OCD may be the result of a particular genetic variation, such as hoarding

Question 13

What is the role of neurotransmitters?

Answer 13

Neurotransmitters are responsible for relaying information from one neuron to another

Question 14

What can OCD be associated with?

Answer 14

Impaired decision-making

Question 15

What could impaired decision-making be associated with?

Answer 15

Abnormal functioning of the lateral and frontal lobes of the brain

Question 16

What is the frontal lobe responsible for?

Answer 16

Logical thinking and making decisions

Question 17

What is responsible for processing unpleasant emotions?

Answer 17

Parahippocampal gyrus

Question 18

What is parahippocampal gyrus dysfunction?

Answer 18

Evidence suggests it is associated with processing unpleasant emotions

Question 19

What was Nestadt’s study?

Answer 19

Reviewed twin studies and found that 68% of identical twins shared OCD as opposed to 31% of non-identical twins which strongly supports a genetic influence on OCD

Question 20

What is having two disorders together called?

Answer 20

Co-morbidity

Question 21

How does the parahippocampal gyrus act in OCD

Answer 21

functions abnormally and OCD