AO3

• What is one strength of the genetic explanation of OCD?

  Research support for genetic influence
• What did Nastadt et al find regarding identical twins and OCD?

  68% of identical twins shared OCD
• What does a 100% concordance rate in identical twins imply about genetics and OCD?

  If purely genetic, it should be 100%
• Why is the genetic explanation for OCD considered strong overall?

  Evidence supports the influence of genes
• What is a limitation of the genetic explanation of OCD?

  Difficult to identify all involved genes
• Why is it challenging to pinpoint genes related to OCD?

  Multiple genes increase risk slightly
• What is a consequence of the difficulty in identifying genes for OCD?

  Limited predictive value of genetic explanation
• What does the genetic explanation of OCD fail to consider?

  Environmental factors influencing OCD
• What did Cromer et al find about OCD patients and traumatic events?

  Over half had a traumatic event
• How does the severity of OCD relate to trauma according to Cromer et al?

  More trauma leads to more severe OCD
• What might be more productive than focusing solely on genetics for OCD?

  Focusing on environmental causes
• What role does serotonin play in OCD?

  Helps regulate mood
• What happens if a person has low serotonin levels?

  Mood transmission is disrupted
• How does low serotonin relate to OCD symptoms?

  Messages between neurons are ineffective
• What is associated with impaired decision making in some OCD cases?

  Abnormal functioning of frontal lobes
• What is the function of the frontal lobes?

  Responsible for logical thinking and decisions
• Which area is associated with processing unpleasant emotions in OCD?

  Left parahippocampal gyrus
• What is a strength of the neural explanation for OCD?

  Evidence supports neural mechanisms' role
• How do some antidepressants relate to OCD?

  They increase serotonin levels
• What does the effectiveness of antidepressants suggest about OCD?

  Serotonin system is involved in OCD
• What does the comorbidity of OCD and Parkinson's disease suggest?

  Biological processes may overlap
• What is a limitation of neural explanations for OCD?


  Unclear which mechanisms are involved
• What have studies of decision making shown about neural systems in OCD?

  Same systems function abnormally in OCD
• Why is the neural explanation of OCD considered limited?

  No consistent system identified for OCD
• What is comorbidity in the context of OCD?

  Having OCD and depression together
• How might depression relate to the serotonin system in OCD patients?

  Disruption to serotonin system may occur
• What is a limitation regarding the cause and effect relationship in OCD?

  Unclear if neural mechanisms cause OCD
• What does abnormal functioning of neurotransmitters in OCD not imply?

  It does not imply causation of OCD