Biological Approach to Explaining OCD

1) Genetic explanation

• genetically inherited and runs in families
• what is probably passed on from one generation to the next is 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 is needed to trigger the condition
• researchers have identified genes that create this vulnerability called candidate genes, for example gene 9
• OCD seems to be polygenic so it is not caused by a single gene but rather several genes, some estimates suggest as many as 230 and it is thought different types of OCD may be caused by different combinations of these genes
• family studies indicate a higher percentage of first degree relatives have the disorder (10%) compared to the prevalence rate (2%)

2) Neural explanation

• the genes associated with OCD are likely to affect eh levels of neurotransmitters as well as the structures in the brain
• the neurotransmitter serotonin is thought to help regulate mood
• if a person has low serotonin transmission then normal transmission of mood relevant information across the synaose does not take place and the persons mood and sometimes other mental processes are affecred
• serotonin may be…