biological approach: explaining OCD

    Cards (5)

    • key terms
      • Biological approach: Emphasises physical processes in the body, especially genetic and neural.
      • Genetic explanations: OCD inherited via genes that affect vulnerability.
      • Neural explanations: OCD is linked to abnormal functioning in brain areas and neurotransmitters (e.g. serotonin).
    • genetic explanations
      • Candidate genes: Create vulnerability for OCD (e.g. SERT gene affects serotonin).
      • OCD is polygenic: Caused by multiple genes – up to 230 may be involved.
      • Different types of OCD: Different gene combinations may cause different symptoms or subtypes (e.g. hoarding, religious obsessions).
    • neural explanations
      • Role of serotonin: Low serotonin transmission leads to poor mood regulation.
      • Decision-making systems: OCD may involve issues in:
      • Lateral frontal lobes (logical thinking and decision making).
      • Parahippocampal gyrus (associated with processing unpleasant emotions).
    • evaluation: genetic explanations
      • ✅ Research support: Twin studies show higher concordance for OCD in MZ twins.
      • ❌ Environmental risk factors: Trauma can also play a key role; biological explanation is partial.
      • ❌ Animal studies: Genetic complexity in humans makes it hard to generalise from animals.
    • evaluation: neural explanations
      • ✅ Research support: Brain scans show differences in OCD sufferers.
      • ❌ No unique neural system: Other disorders share similar brain regions (e.g. depression).
      • ❌ Correlation vs causation: Difficult to prove if neural differences cause OCD or result from it.
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