✏️The biological approach to explaining OCD
One of the biological explanations of OCD is the genetic explanation. Researchers have found that
there are certain genes which can create a vulnerability to OCD, called candidate genes. These are
serotonin and dopamine, both of which are neurotransmitters. OCD is polygenic. This means that it
isn't just caused by one gene, but several genes are involved. One researcher found evidence that
there could be up to 230 different genes involved. There are different types of OCD. This means that
one group of genes could cause OCD in one person, but a completely different set of genes could
cause OCD in another person. This means that OCD is aetiologically heterogeneous. There is also
evidence that different types of OCD could be the result of different genetic variations.
There are also neural explanations for OCD. Neurotransmitters are responsible for relaying
information between neurons. If one person has lower levels of the neurotransmitter serotonin then
a person's mood-related information might not take place. Sometimes other mental processes are
affected.
Decision-making can also be affected. Some cases of OCD involve impaired decision-making. This
could be associated with abnormal functioning of the lateral frontal lobes of the brain since the
frontal lobes are responsible for logical thinking and making decisions. There is also evidence that
suggests an area called the left parahippocampal gyrus functions abnormally in people with OCD.
This part of the brain is associated with processing unpleasant emotions.
A strength of the genetic explanations for OCD is that there is evidence. One researcher reviewed
the evidence and found that 68% of identical twins shared OCD with their sibling, compared to only
31% of non-identical twins. Two other researchers found that a person with a family member with
OCD is 4 times more likely to develop it, compared to someone without a family member with OCD.
This provides evidence that people who have similar genetics are more likely to share OCD which
supports the role of genetic vulnerability.
A limitation of the genetic explanations is that there is the existence of environmental risk factors.
Environmental risk factors that trigger OCD can increase the risk of OCD. One researcher discovered
that more than half the people with OCD experienced a traumatic event. This means that genetic
vulnerability only provides a partial explanation for OCD.
A strength of the neural explanation is that there is supporting evidence. Antidepressants work on
serotonin to reduce OCD symptoms. This means that OCD might involve serotonin. The symptoms of
OCD also form part of the symptoms of a condition called Parkinson's disease, which is a biological
disease. This means that biological factors are likely to be involved in OCD.
A limitation of the neural explanation is that there isn't a unique neural system. Many people who
have OCD also experience depression. This is probably because of the disruption to serotonin. It
could be that serotonin activity is disrupted because people with OCD are also depressed. This
means that serotonin might not be relevant to OCD symptoms.
One of the biological explanations of OCD is the genetic explanation. Researchers have found that
there are certain genes which can create a vulnerability to OCD, called candidate genes. These are
serotonin and dopamine, both of which are neurotransmitters. OCD is polygenic. This means that it
isn't just caused by one gene, but several genes are involved. One researcher found evidence that
there could be up to 230 different genes involved. There are different types of OCD. This means that
one group of genes could cause OCD in one person, but a completely different set of genes could
cause OCD in another person. This means that OCD is aetiologically heterogeneous. There is also
evidence that different types of OCD could be the result of different genetic variations.
There are also neural explanations for OCD. Neurotransmitters are responsible for relaying
information between neurons. If one person has lower levels of the neurotransmitter serotonin then
a person's mood-related information might not take place. Sometimes other mental processes are
affected.
Decision-making can also be affected. Some cases of OCD involve impaired decision-making. This
could be associated with abnormal functioning of the lateral frontal lobes of the brain since the
frontal lobes are responsible for logical thinking and making decisions. There is also evidence that
suggests an area called the left parahippocampal gyrus functions abnormally in people with OCD.
This part of the brain is associated with processing unpleasant emotions.
A strength of the genetic explanations for OCD is that there is evidence. One researcher reviewed
the evidence and found that 68% of identical twins shared OCD with their sibling, compared to only
31% of non-identical twins. Two other researchers found that a person with a family member with
OCD is 4 times more likely to develop it, compared to someone without a family member with OCD.
This provides evidence that people who have similar genetics are more likely to share OCD which
supports the role of genetic vulnerability.
A limitation of the genetic explanations is that there is the existence of environmental risk factors.
Environmental risk factors that trigger OCD can increase the risk of OCD. One researcher discovered
that more than half the people with OCD experienced a traumatic event. This means that genetic
vulnerability only provides a partial explanation for OCD.
A strength of the neural explanation is that there is supporting evidence. Antidepressants work on
serotonin to reduce OCD symptoms. This means that OCD might involve serotonin. The symptoms of
OCD also form part of the symptoms of a condition called Parkinson's disease, which is a biological
disease. This means that biological factors are likely to be involved in OCD.
A limitation of the neural explanation is that there isn't a unique neural system. Many people who
have OCD also experience depression. This is probably because of the disruption to serotonin. It
could be that serotonin activity is disrupted because people with OCD are also depressed. This
means that serotonin might not be relevant to OCD symptoms.
