Neural Explanations for OCD

• What is the focus of the exam question in the study material?

  Biological explanations of OCD
• What neurotransmitter is linked to regulating mood?

  Serotonin
• What happens if a person has low levels of serotonin?

  Mood transmission is affected
• How are lower levels of serotonin linked to OCD?

  They are associated with mood and mental processes
• What did Pigott et al (1990) find regarding antidepressants?

  They reduce OCD symptoms
• What is the relationship between dopamine levels and OCD?

  Dopamine levels are thought to be high
• What type of studies suggest high dopamine levels in OCD patients?

  Animal studies
• What do high doses of drugs that increase dopamine induce?

  Stereotyped movements resembling compulsive behaviors
• Which part of the brain is responsible for logical thinking?

  The lateral frontal lobes
• What is thought to lead to illogical thinking in OCD sufferers?

  Abnormal functioning in the lateral frontal lobes
• What is the role of the parahippocampal gyrus in OCD?

  Processing unpleasant emotions
• How does the parahippocampal gyrus function in OCD sufferers?

  It functions abnormally
• Why are compulsions needed in OCD?

  To deal with anxiety caused by obsessions
• What does the orbital frontal cortex (OFC) do in OCD?

  It sends signals about worrying things
• What happens to the thalamus in people with OCD?

  It instructs them to carry out OCD behaviors
• What role does the caudate nucleus play in people without OCD?

  It acts as a filter for worry signals
• What happens to the caudate nucleus in people with OCD?

  It doesn't filter worry signals properly
• What could cause the issue with the caudate nucleus in OCD?

  Damage or overstimulation
• What supports the low serotonin theory in OCD?

  Anti-depressants provide relief for patients
• What complicates the relationship between low serotonin and OCD?

  Co-morbidity with depression
• What is a potential issue when drawing conclusions from studies on OCD?

  Cause and effect can be unclear
• What is a limitation of drug treatments for OCD?

  Not all patients respond to them
• What is a concern regarding neurochemical imbalances in OCD?

  They may be symptoms rather than causes
• What is a limitation of the identified neural mechanisms in OCD?

  They are not always present in all cases
• What issue was found with some studies of abnormal brain functioning in OCD?

  They have not been replicated
• What is a comparison point for neural explanations of OCD?

  Comparison with other explanations
• What are the key components of the neural explanations of OCD?

  • Role of neurotransmitters: serotonin and dopamine
  • Abnormal functioning in the lateral frontal lobes
  • Parahippocampal gyrus processing unpleasant emotions
  • Orbital frontal cortex and worry circuit
  • Caudate nucleus-thalamus loop
• What are the evaluation points for neural explanations of OCD?

  • Support from drug treatments (SSRIs)
  • Co-morbidity with depression complicates causation
  • Cause and effect issues in studies
  • Not all patients respond to treatments
  • Some neural mechanisms not present in all cases
• What is the suggested plan for answering the exam question on OCD?

  • A01: Genetics theory (candidate genes, polygenic)
  • A02: Link to Melanie
  • A03: At least two evaluation points
  • A01: Neural theory
  • A02: Link to Emma
  • A03: At least two evaluation points
• What additional resources are suggested for further reading on OCD?

  • Overview of biological theories of OCD
  • Link: https://www.tutor2u.net/psychology/reference/ocd-explained