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Summary The biological approach to explaining OCD
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Notes on explaining OCD
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The biological approach to explaining OCDKey terms
- Biological approach: a perspective that emphasises the importance of physical
processes in the body such as genetic inheritance and neural function
- Genetic explanations: genes make up chromosomes and consist of DNA, which code
the physical features of an organism (such as eye colour, height) and psychological
features (such as mental disorder, intelligence). Genes are transmitted from parents to
offspring i.e. inherited
- Neural explanations: the view that physical and psychological characteristics are
determined by the behaviour of the nervous system, in particular the brain as well as
individual neurons
Genetic explanations
Some mental disorders appear to have a stronger biological component than others and OCD is
a good example of a condition that may be largely understood as biological in nature
- One form of biological explanation is the genetic explanation
Genes are involved in individual vulnerability to OCD
- Lewis (1936) observed that of his OCD patients, 37% had parents with OCD and 21%
had siblings with OCD
- This suggests that OCD runs in families, although what is probably passed on
from one generation to the next is a genetic vulnerability, not the certainty of
OCD
- According to the diathesis-stress model, certain genes leave some people
more likely to suffer from a mental disorder, but it is not certain - some
environmental stress (experience) is necessary to trigger the condition
Candidate genes
Researchers have identified genes, which create vulnerability for OCD, called candidate genes
- Some of these genes are involved in regulating the development of the serotonin system
- For example, the gene 5H1T-D beta is implicated in the efficiency of the transport
of serotonin across synapses
OCD is polygenic
OCD seems to be polygenic
- This means that OCD is not caused by one single gene, but several genes are involved
Taylor (2013) analysed findings of previous studies and found evidence that up to 230 different
genes may be involved in OCD
- Genes that have been studied in relation to OCD include those associated with the
action of dopamine as well as serotonin, which are both neurotransmitters believed to
have a role in regulating mood
Different types of OCD
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