Biological approach for treating OCD Flashcards
What is Drug Therapy?
-A biological treatment of OCD
-Balances the levels of Serotonin in the brain to relieve the symptoms of OCD
What is the anti depressant used called?
Selective Serotonin Re uptake inhibitors (SSRI)
What are SSRI’s
Seritonin Agonist
How does SSRI increase levels of Serotonin?
-Blocking the re absorption of Serotonin in the pre-synaptic neuron
-increases levels of Serotonin in the Synapse
-continues to activate and stimulate in the Post synaptic neuron
What does SSRI overall do?
The drug helps to reduce the anxiety associated with OCD
How long does it take to alleviate symptoms?
3-4 months and the dosage varies.
What drug is used if SSRI isn’t effective and what does it do?
-SNRI
-this increases serotonin and noradrenaline activity
What are the 3 evaluations?
-RTS (Soomer et al)
- Counter Skapinakis et al
- Little motivation is required
Explain the evaluation of Soomer et al.
-research on the effectiveness of drug therapy on treating OCD
-Reviewed 17 studies of the use of SSRI as a treatment of OCD
-Found that SSRI was more effective than Placebo
-Symptoms reduce 70% of people who used SSRI
-remaining 30% can use a alternate drug or combine it with psychological therapies
Explain the Counter argument of Soomer et al.
-evidence suggests that though drug treatment is helpful to everyone with OCD
-that doesn’t mean its the most effective treatment available
-Skapinakis et al carried out systematic review on outcome studies
-Concluded that cognitive and behavioural exposure therapies were more effective that SSRI
Explain the evaluation that little motivation is required.
-Patients only have to take a tablet to reduce symptoms of OCD
-May be better than CBT as a treatment of OCD
-CBT requires the patient to have motivation to attend there therapy session
-And challenge there irrational thoughts
-Cost effective benefits the NHS
