Biological Approach to Treating OCD Flashcards
biological approach to treating OCD
3
uses drug therapy to treat OCD, including.... • antidepressants: SSRIs • antidepressants: tricyclics • anti anxiety drugs • other drugs
easy and accessible
currently, drug therapy is the most commonly used treatment for OCD
antidepressants: SSRIs
6
the most commonly used drugs for OCD are antidepressants
low levels of the neurotransmitter serotonin are associated with OCD, so antidepressants increase the level of serotonin in the body
they also reduce the anxiety associated with OCD and normalise the worry circuit
SSRIs (seratonin reuptake inhibitors) such as prozac are the preferred drug for treating OCD and other anxiety disorders
they increase serotonin levels, which regulates mood and anxiety — seratonin is implicated in behaviours such as aggression, eating, sleep and depression
they do this by blocking the reuptake of serotonin at the pre synaptic membrane, thus increasing serotonin concentration at receptor sites on the post synaptic membrane
antidepressants: tricyclics
5
tricyclics are another type of antidepressant used to treat OCD
they block the transporter mechanism that reabsorbs both serotonin and noradrenaline into the pre synaptic cell
noradrenaline is found in areas of the brain involved in governing ANS activity such as blood pressure and heart rate
as a result, more seratonin and noradrenaline are left in the synapse which prolongs their activity and eases transmission of the next impulse
they target more than one neurotransmitter but have greater side effects so are used as a second resort for when SSRIs are not effective
anti anxiety drugs
4
BZs (benzodiazepines) such as xanax are commonly used to reduce anxiety
they slow down the activity of the CNS by enhancing the activity of the neurotransmitter GABA (gamma aminobutyric acid) which has a quietening effect on many of the neurons in the brain
it reacts with GABA receptors on the outside of the receiving neurons, locks onto them and opens a channel that increases the flow of chloride ions into the neuron
these make it harder for the neuron to be stimulated by other neurotransmitters, thus slowing down its activity and making the person feel more relaxed
GABA
2
gamma aminobutyric acid
a neurotransmitter that regulates excitement in the nervous system and reduces anxiety
noradrenaline
2
a neurotransmitter found in areas is the brain involved in governing autonomic nervous system activity
such as blood pressure or heart rate
serotonin
1
a neurotransmitter implicated in behaviours such as aggression, eating behaviour, sleep and depression
other drugs
3
D-Cycloserine has an effect on reducing anxiety and may be an effective treatment for OCD, particularly when used in conjunction with psychotherapy
it is an antibiotic used in the treatment of tuberculosis
appears to enhance the transmission of GABA, thus reducing the anxiety associated with OCD
x3 evaluation points
evidence for effectiveness
side effects
preferred treatment to other therapies
evaluation
EVIDENCE FOR EFFECTIVENESS
4
there is evidence that supports the effectiveness of drug treatments
Soomro et al reviewed 17 studies relating to the use of SSRIs in OCD patients and found that SSRIs were more effective than placebos in reducing the symptoms of OCD up to 3 months after treatment
HOWEVER, most of these studies only examine the short term effects of drug therapy as they only last 3-4 months
therefore, there is little long term data supporting the use of drugs to treat OCD and there may not be a lasting cure
evaluation
SIDE EFFECTS
5
drugs have side effects, some of which may be very severe
nausea, headaches and insomnia are common side effects of SSRIs — these are often enough to make the patient prefer not to take the drug
moreover, tricyclics tend to have more serious side effects such as hallucinations and irregular heartbeats
possible side effects of BZs include aggressiveness and long term impairment of memory
there are also problems with potential addiction with all of these drugs, especially BZs which is why they’re limited to a maximum period of 4 weeks
evaluation
PREFERRED TO OTHER THERAPIES
4
drug therapy is often preferred to other treatments because it requires little effort from the patient and little input in terms of time
all the patient has to do is take their prescribed pills, whereas other therapies such as CBT require much more dedication as clients need to attend regular meetings and put considerable thought into tackling their problems
this is not an issue with drug therapy, making it much easier and suitable for those who struggle talking through their problems or who don’t have a lot of time for therapy — e.g. men, people with learning difficulties
cheaper for health services as they require little monitoring and are cheap compared to psychological treatments
