biological approach to OCD

• what does the OCD biological approach assume?

  • that abormality is caused by physiological factors (brain structural abnormalities and genetics)
  • treatments that alter physiology (drugs) are used to address the disorder
• genes - OCD biological explanation

  • individuals may inherit a genetic vulnerability for OCD
• neural explanations - OCD biological explanation

  • gibes are likely to affect levels of neurotransmitters (brain biochemicals) and brain structures
• role of serotonin - neural explanations

  • neurotransmitter linked to mood regulation
  • neurotransmitters are responsible for relaying information from one neuron to another
  • if a person has low serotonin levels, the normal transition of mood reliant information doesn't take place
  • this results in mood and other mental processes being affected
  • some OCD cases may be explained by a reduction in the functioning of the serotonin system in the brain
• decision making systems - neural explanations

  • some OCD cases (hoarding disorder) are associated with impaired decision making
  • this may be associated with abnormal functioning of the lateral (side bits) of the brain's frontal lobes
  • the frontal lobes (front of brain) are responsible for logical thought and decision making
  • ORBITOFRONTAL CORTEX - high activity in brain scans of individuals with OCD