Biological approach to OCD

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What is the view of the biological approach to OCD
It sees psychological disorders as physical illnesses
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What do genetic factors mean
That having a relative with OCD may increase your chances of having OCD
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What evidence for genetic factors does BILLET ET AL give
Meta analysis of twin studies
- identical twins where one had OCD 68% of the time the other did compared to the 2% of the population
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What evidence for genetic factors does PAULS ET AL give
10% of ppl with immediate relatives with OCD also suffer compared with the 2% of the general population
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Evidence against genetic factors - 1
No study has found 100% concordance and it may be that children imitate relatives with OCD
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Evidence against genetic factors - 2
Concordance rates. It may be that general anxiety if genetic which develops to OCD through other contributing factors
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What is meant by Biochemical factors
PET scans have shown levels of neurotransmitter serotonin are lower in OCD sufferers
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What is INSELS evidence for biochemical factors
class of drugs called SSRI’s that increase levels of serotonin reduced symptoms of OCD in 50-60% of cases
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What is ZOHAR ET ALS evidence for Biochemical factors
SSRI’s alleviated symptoms in 60% of patients with OCD
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What is the first reason against biological factors
SSRI’s appear to give some relief to OCD sufferers but as not true in 100% of cases needs more understanding of OCD
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What is the second reason against biological factors
The link with serotonin is correlation so doesn’t show cause and effect. Reduced levels of serotonin may be a symptom not cause of OCD
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Neurological factors example
PET scans have found that abnormalities in the Basal Ganglia in the brain may be linked to OCD
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MAX ET AL Evidence for Neurological factors
increased rates of OCD in those with head injuries causing brain damage to the Basal Ganglia
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What has other research found in relation to Neurological factors
increased activity in this area during OCD related thoughts and behaviors
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What other evidence has been found for Neurological factors in people with other diseases
OCD found in people with other diseases involving the Basal Ganglia such as Parkinson’s and Huntington’s
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What evidence did AYLWARD ET AL give against neurological OCD
no significant difference in Basal Ganglia impairment between OCD patients and control group
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What is another piece of evidence against Neurological factors
Basal Ganglia damage hasn’t been found in 10% of people with OCD so not full explanation
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What are the strengths of the biological approach -1
Scientific basis in biology – evidence that low serotonin and damage to the Basal Ganglia correlate in OCD cases but not necessarily a casual relationship
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What are the strengths of the biological approach -2
- Twin studies show genetics have some effect on the likelihood of developing OCD
- Ethical as people are not blamed for their disorders it is an illness
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What is a weakness of the biological approach
- Doesn’t take into account environment, family, childhood experience or social influences which are key elements in other approaches
- Biological therapies raise ethical concern as drugs can produce addition and may only suppress symptoms
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How is OCD treated
using biological therapies involving drugs
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What do drug therapies do
- increase serotonin in the brain using selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRI) are an anti-depressant that increase serotonin
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What do SSRI's do
prevent reuptake of serotonin in the Synaptic Cleft so more serotonin is available for the next neuron
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What are advantages of the biological therapies
-Several researchers have found SSRI’s effective treatment to OCD.
- Other researchers have found that using other antidepressants that don’t effect serotonin levels were ineffective to reducing OCD
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What did THOREN ET AL find is an advantage of Biological therapies
use of SSRI’s was better at reducing obsessive thoughts than a placebo
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What is the first disadvantage of Biological therapies
Up to 50% of patients with OCD don’t experience improvement through SSRI’s out of those who do 90% relapse after they stop taking them
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What is the second Disadvantage of Biological therapies
SSRI’s must be taken for several weeks before patients experience improvement of symptoms
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What is the third disadvantage of biological therapies
Side effects of SSRI’s include nausea, headaches and increased levels of anxiety which can cause people to stop taking their medication
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What are the factors of the biological approach
- Genetic factors
- Biochemical factors
- Neurological factors
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Other cards in this set

Card 2

Front

What do genetic factors mean

Back

That having a relative with OCD may increase your chances of having OCD

Card 3

Front

What evidence for genetic factors does BILLET ET AL give

Back

Preview of the front of card 3

Card 4

Front

What evidence for genetic factors does PAULS ET AL give

Back

Preview of the front of card 4

Card 5

Front

Evidence against genetic factors - 1

Back

Preview of the front of card 5
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