biological approach treating OCD

Question 1

how does drug treatment work

Answer 1

• aims to increase or decrease levels of neurotransmitters in brain or increase/decrease their activity

Question 2

what are SSRIs and what do they do

Answer 2

• selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors
• prevent the re-absorbtion and breakdown of serotonin, therefore increasing its levels in the synapse

Question 3

how can you combine SSRIs with other treatments

Answer 3

• can be used alongside CBT
• drugs reduce emotional symptoms such as feeling anxious or depressed
• allows patients to engage more effectively with the CBT

Question 4

evaluate drug therapy as a treatment for OCD

Answer 4

• cost-effective/economical implications = cheap compared to psychological treatments, good value for public health systems e.g. NHS
• easy and less effort = simply just take drugs until symptoms decrease rather than committing to multiple sessions of CBT
• side-effects = drugs may have negative side-effects especially for those who take higher doses, this could help with OCD symptoms but possibly create effects that are seen as equally bad e.g. issues with blood pressure or weight gain
• types of OCD/individual differences = some people develop OCD as a result of trauma and so it may be more appropriate to use other treatments that target this such as CBT