Biological approach to treating OCD

Question 1

Biological approach to treating OCD

Answer 1

Drug therapy
└ SSRIs
└ Tricyclics
└ SNRIs

Question 2

Drug therapy

Answer 2

aims to alter the levels/activity of neurotransmitters in the brain

Question 3

SSRIs

Answer 3

└selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor
└antidepressant
└prevents reabsorption and breakdown of serotonin to increase the levels in the synapse- continue to stimulate postsynaptic neuron
└3-4 months of daily use to have an impact
└e.g. Fluoxetine

Question 4

Combining SSRIs with other treatments

Answer 4

└drugs + CBT
└drugs reduce emotional symptoms(anxiety, depression) so patents can engage more effectively with CBT
└SSRIs + other drugs

Question 5

Alternatives to SSRIs

Answer 5

└ Tricyclics

└ SNRIs

Question 6

Tricyclics

Answer 6

└older antidepressant
└e.g. Clomipramine
└same effects as SSRIs but more severe effects

Question 7

SNRIs

Answer 7

└serotonin-noradrenalin reuptake inhibitors

└increase levels of serotonin and noradrenaline

Question 8

Drug therapy

Strengths (2)

Answer 8

Drug therapy effective in tackling OCD symptoms
└Soomro et al (2009)- 17/17 studies better with SSRIs that placebos
└best when combined with CBT
└improves OCD symptoms/quality of life
└symptoms decline for 70% suing only drugs
└ symptoms decline for other 30% using combinations

Drugs are cost-effective and non-disruptive
└cheaper than psychological treatments – good for NHS
└don’t have to have the hard work of therapy (less disruptive to life)
└=popular with doctors and patients

Question 9

Drug therapy

Limitations (2)

Answer 9

Drugs can have side effects
└minority wont benefit from drugs
└side effects: indigestion, blurred vision, loss of sex drive (temporary)
└ Clomipramine= more common and serious: tremors and weight gain (1/10), aggressive (1/100)
└people stop taking medication= less effective

Some cases of OCD follow trauma
└if the product of trauma psychological therapy may be more beneficial