BIOLOGICAL APPROACH TO TREATING OCD

Question 1

what is the biological approach to treating OCD?

Answer 1

through drug therapy

Question 2

what does drug therapy for mental disorder aim to do?

Answer 2

increase or decrease the levels of neurotransmitters in the brain

Question 3

low levels of what are associated with OCD?

Answer 3

serotonin

Question 4

what does SSRI stand for?

Answer 4

selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor

Question 5

what do SSRI’s prevent?

Answer 5

the reabsorption and breakdown of serotonin in the brain

Question 6

how do SSRI’s increase the levels of seratonin?

Answer 6

increase the levels in the synapse so serotonin continues to stimulate the post-synaptic nerve

Question 7

what is the typical dosage of an SSRI?

Answer 7

20mg of Fluoxetine, can be increased if not helping the patient

Question 8

SSRI’s can be combined with..

Answer 8

CBT, drugs to reduce emotional symptoms e.g. anxiety or depression to engage with CBT more effectively

Question 9

what are 2 alternatives to SSRI’s?

Answer 9

SNRI’s

Tricyclics

Question 10

what does SNRI’s stand for?

Answer 10

serotonin and norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors

Question 11

what do SNRI’s do?

Answer 11

the same as SSRI’s but increase levels of noradrenaline

Question 12

what are tricyclics?

Answer 12

older type of anti-depressant, have same effect on serotonin levels but have greater side effects

Question 13

who found evidence to support that drug therapy is effective at tackling OCD symptoms?

Answer 13

Soomro et al

Question 14

how many studies did Soomro et al look at ?

Answer 14

17 studies comparing SSRI’s to placebo’s in treating OCD

Question 15

what did all 17 studies show about OCD drugs and placebo’s?

Answer 15

that they were significantly better at treating OCD than placebo’s

Question 16

when is drug therapy most effective according to Soomro?

Answer 16

when combined with CBT

Question 17

what % of patients taking SSRI’s had reduced symptoms?

Answer 17

70%

Question 18

what are drugs that is a strength?

Answer 18

cost-effective and non-disruptive

Question 19

what are drugs cheap in comparison to?

Answer 19

psychological treatments

Question 20

why do doctors prefer using drug treatment in comparison to treatment therapies?

Answer 20

the patient doesn’t have to engage in hard work of therapy, can take drugs until symptoms stop

Question 21

however, what may be a better treatment for OCD since drugs and therapy are most effective together?

Answer 21

the diathesis stress model

Question 22

what is the diathesis stress model?

Answer 22

that genetic vulnerability and stress of experiences can contribute the phobias/ocd/depression

Question 23

what do drugs come with that is a limitation?

Answer 23

have side effects

Question 24

what are some side effects of SSRI’s?

Answer 24

indigestion, blurred vision and loss of sex drive

Question 25

what do the side effects of SSRI’s mean?

Answer 25

people may stop taking the drug because it is doing more harm than good

Question 26

what is a problem with OCD that mean drugs will not be effective?

Answer 26

can stem from personal trauma

Question 27

what might those who have OCD from past trauma benefit more from?

Answer 27

psychological therapies

Question 28

how do the different types of ways OCD can be acquired be a limitation?

Answer 28

means drugs won’t work for everyone as it is not always biologically acquired