Neural Explanations of OCD

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what do neural explanations do?
focus on the key role of key neurotransmitters and brain structures in causing OCD, if either have abnormalities then OCD may result
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Role of Neurotransmitters
2 key associated are seretonin and dopamine which interplay which may trigger OCD
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what role does seretonin have in OCD?
in low levels, involved in created in repetitive thoughts
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what role does dopamine have in OCD?
high levels, involved in compulsive behaviour
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Role of Brain Stucture
number of brain structures involved in OCD from a circuit which has been termed 'worry circuit'
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what do the brain structures normally function to do?
detect threat, make decisions about whether a response is required and then return system back to normal when threat has been coped with
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Orbitofrontal Cortex
more active in OCD patients, indicating abnormality high 'worry signals'
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Caudate Nucleus
doesn't function normally and fails to suppress / switch off these signals
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what does this do?
reduce the ability to expert control over inner impulses - they are experienced more frequent and intensely (obsessions) and more likely to be acted upon (Compulsions)
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Advantage of neural explanations
1. evidence supports association between neurotransmitters (animals) activity and OCD 2. neural explanations led to promosing drug treatment for OCD 3. brain scans of patients with OCD support suggestion
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Disadvantage of neural explanations
1. animals of OCD unlikely to reflect complexity of OCD 2. doesn't demonstrate cause and effect 3. low levels seretonin / high levels dopamine found in other mental disorders 4. evidence biological explanations
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Card 2

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Role of Neurotransmitters

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2 key associated are seretonin and dopamine which interplay which may trigger OCD

Card 3

Front

what role does seretonin have in OCD?

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Card 4

Front

what role does dopamine have in OCD?

Back

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Card 5

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Role of Brain Stucture

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