Describe and Evaluate Biological Explanations of OCD
Describe and evaluate biological explanations of OCD (10 marks)
The biological approach as an explanation of OCD believes that the disorder is caused by a fault in our body, either through genes, hormones, the brain, or neurotransmitters, therefore suggesting that OCD is caused by our nature, rather than our upbringing. This means that since we are born with the body we have, if we have OCD, it is innate within us.
One biological explanation for OCD is the genetic explanation. The genetic explanation believes that all of our behaviour is inherited through our genes. This therefore means that we have a predisposition for OCD, which is inherited like any other genetic behaviour. If this were true, OCD is more likely to be prevalent in closely related family members as if one member of the family has OCD, then the likelihood of another individual in the family also having the disorder should be increased. Evidence for this comes from family studies. McKeon and Murray studied relatives by systematic examination and found that relatives of OCD sufferers were more likely to suffer themselves from anxiety disorders in general rather than the rest of the population, but most commonly OCD. This supports the genetic explanation as it shows inheritance of social anxieties, as those who suffer from OCD are more likely to be related to another sufferer. However, since they conducted a family study, we are not able to establish a cause and effect. Because the families studied all live in the same environment, we cannot know for certain whether socialisation has had an effect on OCD in families or whether it is purely biological.
Another biological explanation for OCD is chemical substances in the brain, called neurotransmitters. It is believed that low levels of Serotonin in the brain may cause OCD. This is because medication that increases the level of Serotonin in the brain also happens to reduce symptoms of OCD. This is a good explanation of OCD as it means that
The biological approach as an explanation of OCD believes that the disorder is caused by a fault in our body, either through genes, hormones, the brain, or neurotransmitters, therefore suggesting that OCD is caused by our nature, rather than our upbringing. This means that since we are born with the body we have, if we have OCD, it is innate within us.
One biological explanation for OCD is the genetic explanation. The genetic explanation believes that all of our behaviour is inherited through our genes. This therefore means that we have a predisposition for OCD, which is inherited like any other genetic behaviour. If this were true, OCD is more likely to be prevalent in closely related family members as if one member of the family has OCD, then the likelihood of another individual in the family also having the disorder should be increased. Evidence for this comes from family studies. McKeon and Murray studied relatives by systematic examination and found that relatives of OCD sufferers were more likely to suffer themselves from anxiety disorders in general rather than the rest of the population, but most commonly OCD. This supports the genetic explanation as it shows inheritance of social anxieties, as those who suffer from OCD are more likely to be related to another sufferer. However, since they conducted a family study, we are not able to establish a cause and effect. Because the families studied all live in the same environment, we cannot know for certain whether socialisation has had an effect on OCD in families or whether it is purely biological.
Another biological explanation for OCD is chemical substances in the brain, called neurotransmitters. It is believed that low levels of Serotonin in the brain may cause OCD. This is because medication that increases the level of Serotonin in the brain also happens to reduce symptoms of OCD. This is a good explanation of OCD as it means that