Evaluation – neural explanations of OCD

• Point - One strength of this definition is that there is some supporting evidence.

  Evidence - Piggot et al. (1990) found that drugs which increase the levels of serotonin in the synaptic cleft are effective in treating patients with OCD

  Link Back - We can infer that low levels of serotonin cause OCD. This increases the internal validity of the neural explanation for OCD
• Point - One limitation of this explanation is that the majority of the research is based on correlational studies, making it is difficult to establish a cause-and-effect relationship

  Evidence - Although there is evidence to suggest that neurotransmitters like serotonin and abnormality in brain structures do not function normally in patients with OCD, this does not necessarily mean that the abnormal functioning caused OCD

  Link Back - These biological abnormalities could be a result of OCD, rather than its cause, which weakens the validity and support for the neural explanation for OCD