Case Study: Biological, Psychological, & Social Factors of OCD

This case study delves into Hector's experience with Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD), examining the interplay of biological, psychological, and social factors contributing to his condition. Biologically, the study acknowledges the familial history of OCD symptoms, suggesting a genetic predisposition, even though specific genes haven't been identified. Psychologically, Hector's perfectionism, cautious personality, and desire for control over eating, exercising, socializing, and academics are highlighted as significant influences. Socially, the study emphasizes the impact of Hector's upbringing and limited social interactions, primarily confined to his family, which may hinder his ability to overcome the disorder. The analysis references research supporting these connections between biology, psychology, social environment, and the manifestation of OCD.

Running Head: OCD – HECTOR’S CASE STUDY 1
OCD – HECTOR’S CASE STUDY
Student’s Name
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Biological factors: OCD being a behavior associative disorder, different researchers and
medical publications have acknowledged the connection between biology and behavior. For our
provided case study, Hector’s family has had a history of showing the symptoms of OCD
although the case study does not specifically cover the symptoms. From the provided research by
(Skarphedinsson et al., 2015) no specific genes have been found to adequately satisfy this claim,
OCD runs in families which points to the possibility or the likelihood that genetics does play a
role in its development. The research also shows that people who have family or relative with
OCD are at a higher risk of developing the disorder. This is the case for Hector, since OCD has
already been identified in his family.
Psychological: As seen in OCD the compulsive behaviors are performed in reaction to
the thoughts, images and obsessions. These can be psychologically categorized and from
Hector’s case study this has been significantly highlighted. As observed from his compulsive
behavior of perfectionism and cautious personality. Multiple psychological tendencies have been
also covered in the case study which have greatly influenced Hector’s condition. These includes
his high urge or desire to control his eating, exercising, socializing as well as academics which in
return results to his OCD disorder and we can find them under his symptoms since they have
psychologically imprinted in his mind (Maron & Nutt, 2015).
Social factors also play a huge role in Hector’s current disorder of OCD. Research also
shows that the behavior of a person greatly lies on the social factors that surround the person.
The human behavior relies a lot on issues such as ethnicity, sexual orientation, religious
background, community among many other social factors and as seen from Hector’s case study,
his family’s upbringing greatly affects his behaviors which in return lead to his OCD. His social

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habits which only are closely associated to his family reduce his chances of even fighting his
OCD disorder.

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References
Maron, E., & Nutt, D. (2015). Biological predictors of pharmacological therapy in anxiety
disorders. Dialogues in clinical neuroscience, 17(3), 305.
Nolen-Hoeksema, S., & Rector, N. A. (2015). Abnormal psychology. Boston: McGraw-Hill.
Skarphedinsson, G., Melin, K. H., Valderhaug, R., Wentzel-Larsen, T., Højgaard, D. R.,
Thomsen, P. H., & Ivarsson, T. (2015). Evaluation of the factor structure of the Child
Obsessive–Compulsive Impact Scale–Revised (COIS-R) in Scandinavia with
confirmatory factor analysis. Journal of Obsessive-Compulsive and Related Disorders, 7,
65-72.