Biological Approach to OCD

• Biological explanation of OCD:

  • genetics+ evaluation
  • neural explanation+ evaluation
• Biological treatment of OCD:

  • Drug Therapy+ evaluation
• Reminder:(from when we studied approaches)

  The biological approach says that all behaviours are caused by....

  Physical processes in the body, such as genetics and neural function.
• This means, the biological approach proposes that OCD involves genetic explanations and neural explanations.
• Genetics:

  Genetics is all about inherited factors- you inherit certain characteristics from your parents e.g. hair colour.

  This explanation suggests that there are particular genes inherited which make it more likely for you to get OCD.
• Neurotransmitters:

  Neural explanations suggest that it is physical/psychological characteristics that determine behaviour.

  Neurotransmitters are chemical messengers that facilitate communication between neurons/nerve cells.