Biological Approach To Treating Ocd

Question 1

Drug therapy of ocd

Answer 1

Antidepressant drug
Anti anxiety drug

Question 2

How do antidepressant drugs work

Answer 2

SSRI tackle ow level serotonin
Reuptake occur when molecules of serotonin do not cross synaptic cleft
SSRI work by preventing the reuptake of serotonin in the synaptic cleft back into presynaptic this makes eretonin more accessible in the brain neurons

Question 3

How do anti anxiety drug work for ocd

Answer 3

Treated using benzodiazepines (BZs)
- bzs encourage the transmission of GABA
- GABA is a neurotransmitter high control of neuron hyperactivity associated with fear anxiety and stress
So (BZs) quieten the brain by reducing there neurotransmitters
This reduces obsessive thought

Question 4

Strenth of drug therapy for ocd
(Cost effective)

Answer 4

Is cost effective and widely available
Dugs are cheaper more available than other psychological treatment eg cbt
Impact on economy is lessened - good for health service budgets if more people are treated they will return to work quicker less sick pay

Question 5

Research support for drug therapy for ocd

Answer 5

Researcher conducted meta analysis where they viewed placebo controlled trials
Found drugs in each trial ere more effective then placebo at reducing symptoms of ocd

Question 6

Limitation of drug therapy for ocd ( side effects

Answer 6

Potential serious side effects
SSRI can cause slurred vision, sleep disturbance
BZs can cause drowsiness , confusion
This limits the usefulness of these drugs in treatment of ocd

Question 7

Limitation with drug theory for ocd (validity

Answer 7

Positive results of drug trials are more likley to be published then trials with outcome of drug being less successful
This is unethical it also lessens validity if drug therapies as if only the positive drugs are published is the drug truly effective in treating ocd