Biological explanation and treatment of OCD

Biological approach

Mental health problems come from faulty physical process

OCD

obsession- repetitive and distressing mental images or concers that provoke anxiety

compulsion-actions that temporerialy decrease obssesions

Genetic explanations

OCD is inherited and found there are 230 different genes more present in people with OCD e.g SERT gene . therofer suggesting OCD is polygenic

Research supporting genetic explanation

+twin study-Nestdat- 2% of pop has OCD- MZ twin concordence rate is 68% and DZ 31%

Neural explanation

bio chemical cause an imbalance of neurotransmitter

Seretonin

low levels of seretonin are present in people with OCD therfore Seretonin is quickly reuptake in synapse causing obsesive thought as message isnt passed on -SERT gene is responsible for reansportaion seretonin across the synapse

What neural stucture causes OCD

Worry circuit-contains the orbitofronatl cortex, basal ganglic system and Thalamus which is responsible for filtering out minor worries- people with OCD have hyperactive worry circuits

Compulsion temporarily break the worry circuit

Eval

+twin study-Nestdat- 2% of pop has OCD- MZ twin concordence rate is 68% and DZ 31%- however twins share more similar enviroment

+PET scans have shown more activity in the worry circuit with people with OCD

-It may be part of the DSM-Cormer-54% of 265 ppx who had OCD found symptoms increased after a traumatic event

Drug therapy

SSRI- antidepresant- inhibts reuptake by binding to the presynaptic membrane this process allows for more time for seretonin to be processed in the synapse- decreasing anxiety and normalising the worry circuit

SSRI however can take 3-4m to decrease symptoms

Another form of drug therapy is Benzodiazepines-increase GABA activity- slow down activity of CNS-resulting in relaxation

EVAL

+Soomro- meta analysis of 3097 people with OCD and found SSRI are more effective than placebo 6-17 weeks after treatment

+cheaper than CBT and REBT however- counter they do make side effects
-Research into drug therapy is often done by pharmecutical which have a financial incetive leading to file draw problem where negative results are not published