2023-2025 Year 12 A-Level Psychology - Psychopathology: The Biological Approach To Explaining and Treating OCD TW
The biological approach explains OCD through three main factors: genetic, neurochemical, and neuroanatomical influences. The genetic explanation suggests that OCD can be inherited, with certain genes increasing an individual’s vulnerability to the disorder.
Name 3 biological approaches to explaining OCD
Genetic
Neurochemical
Neuroanatomy
Key Terms
Name 3 biological approaches to explaining OCD
Genetic
Neurochemical
Neuroanatomy
Undesirable genes are known as…
Maladaptive genes
Name 2 maladaptive genes which have been linked with OCD
SERT and COMT
The SERT gene affects the activity levels of which neurochemical?
Serotonin
The COMT gene affects the activity levels of which neurochemical?
Dopamine
Serotonin activity levels have been associated with which characteristic of OCD?
Anxiety
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| Term | Definition |
|---|---|
Name 3 biological approaches to explaining OCD | Genetic Neurochemical Neuroanatomy |
Undesirable genes are known as… | Maladaptive genes |
Name 2 maladaptive genes which have been linked with OCD | SERT and COMT |
The SERT gene affects the activity levels of which neurochemical? | Serotonin |
The COMT gene affects the activity levels of which neurochemical? | Dopamine |
Serotonin activity levels have been associated with which characteristic of OCD? | Anxiety |
Dopamine activity levels have been associated with which characteristic of OCD? | Compulsions |
What is meant by ‘concordance rates’ when looking at twin studies? | The likelihood of two people who share the same genes will develop the same disorder |
Monozygotic twins, are also known as what type of twins? | Identical |
Dizygotic twins are also known as what type of twins? | Non-identical |
Monozygotic twins have been found to have what % of concordance for OCD? | 87 % |
Dizygotic twins have been found to have what % of concordance of OCD? | 47 % |
Specific genes which cause vulnerability to OCD are referred to as… | Candidate genes - a gene that has been associated with a particular trait or disorder. |
What is the relationship between genetic closeness and the likelihood of developing OCD? | The closer the genetic link to a person with OCD, the increased likelihood of that a person develop OCD |
The SERT gene is involved in what process of serotonin? | Transportation |
The COMT gene is involved in which process for dopamine in the brain? | Regulation |
What is meant by ‘neurochemicals’? | Chemicals in the brain which help to send messages |
The neurochemical explanation of OCD would suggest this disorder is caused by an ______________ in neurochemicals? | Imbalance |
What is the function of serotonin? | Maintaining a stable mood / mood regulator |
What kind of SERT gene causes serotonin to be recycled too quickly? | A mutated SERT gene |
The gap between two neurons is known as… | The synapse |
What is meant by ‘the synapse’ | The gap between the presynaptic neuron and the post synaptic neuron |
A mutation of the SERT gene causes what to happen to serotonin? | It becomes recycled / reuptaken too quickly |
How does fast reuptake of serotonin affect serotonin activity levels? | It reduces activity levels because it is removed before it can activate the post synaptic neuron. |
LOW serotonin activity causes … | HIGH anxiety |
Neurochemicals are recycled by which part of a neuron? | The reuptake transporters |
Reuptake transporters are located where in the synapse? | The presynaptic neuron |
Reuptake occurs in which part of the synapse? | The presynaptic neuron |
What are located on the membrane of the post synaptic neuron? | Receptors/Receptor sites |
Before being released into the synapse, neurochemicals are found inside of __ within the presynaptic neuron | Vesicles |
How does the SERT gene influence neurochemistry in the brain? | Reducing ACTIVITY LEVELS of serotonin |
What is meant by the term 'neuroanatomy' in regards to OCD? | Differences in shape, size and function of specific brain areas leads to OCD |
What part of the brain has been associated with OCD? | Basal ganglia |
What function is the basal ganglia responsible for? | Psychomotor functions |
What is the difference between the basal ganglia of a typical individual, and the basal ganglia of someone with OCD? | Those with OCD have a hypersensitive basal ganglia |
What abnormality of the basal ganglia has been linked to OCD? | Hypersensitivity |
Hypersensitivity of the basal ganglia has been associated with which characteristic of OCD? | Compulsions |
Hypersensitivity of the basal ganglia has been associated with what behaviour? | Repetitive movements |
Hypersensitivity in which neuroanatomical structure is associated with OCD? | Basal ganglia |
Why is the genetic explanation of OCD reductionist? | It reduces complex human behaviour of OCD into simple basic units of MUTATED GENES e.g. SERT and ignoring holism |
Why can the neuroanatomical explanation of OCD be considered reductionist? | It reduces complex human behaviour of OCD into simple basic units of HYPERSENSITIVITY IN BRAIN AREAS e.g. basal ganglia ignoring holism. |
Why can the neurochemical explanation of OCD be considered reductionist? | It reduces complex human behaviour of OCD into simple basic units of SEROTONIN / DOPAMINE IMBALANCE, ignoring holism. |
What is one strength that neuronatomical and genetic explanations of OCD share? | They use objective and empirical scientific methods |
What scientific method is used to investigate neuroanatomical structures associated with OCD? | Brain scans |
Why are brain scans considered a scientific method? | As they are objective and empirical |
What is meant by ‘objective’? | Factual |
What is meant by the term ‘empirical’ | Observable |
Biological explanations of OCD ignore what type of approach? | Holistic |
Which biological explanation of OCD has led to practical applications? | Neurochemical |
What practical application has the neurochemical explanation of OCD led to? | Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors |
SSRI's are what type of treatment for OCD? | Drug treatment |
Research to support the genetic explanation of OCD has been conducted by… | Carey + Gottsman |
Name 3 evaluative points you could use to answer this question; “Outline and evaluate the biological approach to explaining OCD (16 marks)” | Biological reduction Scientific methods Practical applications |
What is the aim of drug therapy to treat OCD? | To balance neurochemicals in the brain to relieve symptoms of OCD |
The acronym ‘SSRI’s' stands for what…? | Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors |
What neurochemical do SSRI's work upon? | Serotonin |
SSRI's are known as a serotonin ___________ | Agonist |
Do SSRI's decrease or increase serotonin activity levels in the brain? | Increase |
How do SSRI's increase serotonin activity levels in the brain? | By blocking the reuptake of serotonin |
SSRI's block the reuptake of serotonin into which neuron? | The presynaptic neuron |
A student has written the following statement; “SSRI's block the reuptake of serotonin in the post synaptic neuron” Is this correct or incorrect, and why? | Incorrect - the blocking of reuptake occurs in the presynaptic neuron |
SSRI's relieve which symptom of OCD? | Anxiety |
SSRI's work to reduce anxiety levels in those with OCD. What type of characteristic is this? | Emotional |
What emotional characteristic do SSRI's reduce? | Anxiety |
How long does it take for SSRI's to begin to alleviate symptoms of OCD? | 3 - 4 months |
SSRI's belong to what category of drug therapy? | Anti-depressants |
What is the acronym for a new class of anti-depressant medication - which is used when SSRI's are ineffective? | SNRI's |
The acronym ‘SNRI’s' stands for… | Serotonin Norepinephrine Reuptake Inhibitors |
What do both SSRI's and SNRI's do the reuptake of serotonin in the brain? | Block reuptake |
Name one reason why SSRI's may be a more appropriate therapy for OCD | As they require little motivation and commitment |
Name one reason why SSRI's may not be an appropriate treatment for OCD | Side effects |
Name 3 side effects of SSRI's | Headaches, nausea and insomnia |
“Side effects limit the of SSRI's to treat OCD” | Appropriateness |
Soomro concluded that SSRI's were an __ treatment for OCD | Effective |
Name 2 maladaptive genes associated with OCD | SERT + COMT |
A natural risk to OCD is referred to as having a… | Genetic predisposition |
What is meant by ‘genetic predisposition’ to OCD? | Having a natural risk to OCD |
A student has written the following statement: "The SERT gene reduces serotonin levels in the brain" Is this correct, or incorrect - and why? | Incorrect - the SERT gene reduces serotonin activity levels |
The symptom of anxiety is linked with which characteristic of OCD? | Obsessions |
What is meant by ‘obsessions’ | Internal, intrusive thoughts which cause anxiety |
What is meant by ‘compulsions’ ? | External, repetitive behaviours which are performed to reduce anxiety |