5.6 The Biological Approach to explaining OCD

Description

A level Psychology (psychopathology) Mind Map on 5.6 The Biological Approach to explaining OCD, created by Alicja Klak on 04/03/2023.
Alicja Klak
Mind Map by Alicja Klak, updated more than 1 year ago
Alicja Klak
Created by Alicja Klak over 1 year ago
5
0

Resource summary

5.6 The Biological Approach to explaining OCD
  1. Genetic Explanations
    1. Aubrey Lewis (1936)
      1. 37% had parents with OCD
        1. 21% had siblings with OCD
          1. Suggests that OCD runs in families although what is passed down could be more commonly known as genetic vulnerability.
          2. Candidate Genes
            1. Genes which have been implicated in the development of OCD.
              1. E.G The SERT gene which is involved with regulating serotonin
                1. E.G The COMT gene, regulating the function of dopamine.
              2. OCD is polygenic
                1. Caused by the development of as many as 230 genes
                2. Different types of OCD
                  1. One group of genes may cause OCD in one person but a different group may cause the disorder in another person.
                  2. Evaluation
                    1. Strengths
                      1. Research support.
                        1. Nestadt et al (2010) reviewed twin studies. Found that 68% of identical twins shared OCD but only 31% of non identical.
                          1. Marini and Stebnicki (2012) Family studies. Found that when one family member is diagnosed with OCD, the rest are 4 times as likely to be diagnosed.
                        2. Weaknesses
                          1. Environmental Factors
                            1. Individuals may gain vulnerability to OCD through an environmental stressor.
                              1. Cromer (2007) found that over half of the OCD patients in the sample developed OCD after a traumatic event in the past.
                            2. Too many genes involved to pinpoint specific ones.
                        3. Neural Explanations
                          1. Abnormal levels of certain neurotransmitters
                            1. If a person has low levels of serotonin then normal transmission of mood-relevant information does not take place and a person may experience low moods.
                            2. Certain brain circuits may be faulty
                              1. Basal Ganglia
                                1. Hypersensitivity of basal ganglia results in a rise of repetitive motor behaviours.
                                2. Orbitofrontal Cortex and Thalamus
                                  1. Involved with decision making. An overactive thalamus would result in increased motivation to clean or check for safety. An overactive OFC means increased anxiety.
                                3. Evaluation
                                  1. Strengths
                                    1. Antidepressants which work purely on serotonin help in reducing OCD symptoms suggesting serotonin is involved in the process of OCD.
                                      1. Brains of OCD patients are structured differently which can be seen in brain scans.
                                      2. Weaknesses
                                        1. Cant distinguish whether low dopamine is a factor in OCD or just an effect of OCD.
                                    Show full summary Hide full summary

                                    Similar

                                    Biological Psychology - Stress
                                    Gurdev Manchanda
                                    History of Psychology
                                    mia.rigby
                                    Bowlby's Theory of Attachment
                                    Jessica Phillips
                                    Psychology A1
                                    Ellie Hughes
                                    Psychology subject map
                                    Jake Pickup
                                    Memory Key words
                                    Sammy :P
                                    Psychology | Unit 4 | Addiction - Explanations
                                    showmestarlight
                                    The Biological Approach to Psychology
                                    Gabby Wood
                                    Chapter 5: Short-term and Working Memory
                                    krupa8711
                                    Cognitive Psychology - Capacity and encoding
                                    T W
                                    Nervous Systems and the Brain - Lecture 1
                                    Georgina Burchell