AO3

• Biological Explanations: Evaluation Points

  • Genetic explanations: Research support
  • Genetic explanations: Environmental risk factors
  • Neural explanations: Research support
  • Neural explanations: No unique neural system
• Genetic Explanations AO3: Research Support

  There is various evidence from family and twin studies that supports the genetic explanation of OCD as it suggests that genetic makeup increases the vulnerability to OCD. Nestadt (2010) reviewed twin studies and found that 68% of identical twins both have OCD, compared to 31% of non-identical twins. Marini and Stebnicki (2010) found that somebody who has a family member with OCD is four times more likely to suffer from OCD.
• Genetic Explanations AO3: Environmental Risk Factors

  Genetics cannot solely influence and explain OCD, the environment can also influence it. Cromer (2007) found that over 50% of their sample had a past traumatic event in their life and that OCD was more severe in those who had multiple traumatic events. This suggest that genes are only a partial explanation.
• Neural Explanations AO3: Research Support

  There is research that suggests that anti-depressants that work purely on serotonin can vastly reduce symptoms and improve quality of life, suggesting an association between serotonin and OCD. Nested found that OCD symptoms form part of biological conditions such as Parkinsons. If a biological condition produces OCD symptoms, we can assume that biological processes underlie and are responsible for OCD.
• Neural Explanations AO3: No Unique Neural System

  The serotonin-OCD link may not be unique to OCD. Many people who suffer from OCD also have depression which can be caused by disrupted serotonin levels. This can suggest that low serotonin levels can also cause other disorders, not just OCD.