biological approach to treating OCD

Question 1

what are the treatments ?

Answer 1

Drug Therapy:
1. SSRIs
2. combining SSRIs with other treatments
3. alternative treatments

Question 2

what is drug therapy?

Answer 2

• therapy assumes theres a chemical imbalance in brain which is corrected by drugs either increase/decrease levels of neurotransmitters in brain.
• low levels of serotonin associated with OCD so drugs increase level of serotonin

Question 3

how does SSRIs work?

Answer 3

• serotonin gets reabsorbed through pre-synaptic neurons
• SSRIs increases neurotransmitter levels by preventing reuptake of serotnin. SSRIs increase levels in synapse therefore increasing mood
• therefore reducing OCD symptoms

Question 4

when are SSRIs used and what are the side effects?

Answer 4

• treating serve cases of depression in tablet form for at least 6 months
• side effects include nausea, headache, dry mouth

Question 5

how does combining SSRIs with other treatment work?

Answer 5

CBT!
- drugs used alongside CBT as drug reduce patients emotional symptoms so can engage more in CBT.
- CBT helps change compulsions and disordered thinking

Question 6

how does alternative treatments work?

Answer 6

-Tricyclics: act on serotonin and norephrine. has same effect on serotnin system as SSRIs for people who dont respond to SSRIs
-SNRI: act on serotonin and nirepinephrine. increases levels as sertonin as well as noradrenaline, for patients who dont respond to SSRIs

Question 7

what are the evaluation points?

Answer 7

S: effective at tackling OCD symptoms
S: cost effective and non-disruptive
L: side effects
L: unreliable evidence for drug treatment