OCD: One Biological Treatment

Question 1

Give two examples of drug treatment for OCD.

Answer 1

Antidepressants
Anti-anxiety drugs

Question 2

Give two types of antidepressants that can help with OCD.

Answer 2

Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors (SSRI)

Tricyclics (TCA)

Question 3

Give two types of anti-anxiety drugs that can help with OCD.

Answer 3

Benzodiazepines (BZ)
D-cycloserine

Question 4

How do SSRI’s work?

Answer 4

They reduce the reuptake of serotonin in the synapse.
They also block the transporters, so excess serotonin cannot be recycled which increases the amount of serotonin in the synapse.
Serotonin continues to stimulate the postsynaptic neuron leading to reduction in anxiety.

Question 5

What other neurotransmitter do TCA’s target (other than serotonin)

Answer 5

Noradrenaline

Question 6

Which neurotransmitter is mainly related to anti-anxiety drugs such as Valium or Librium?

Answer 6

GABA - it has a calming effect

Question 7

What kind of drug is D-cycloserine (other than anti-anxiety)?

Answer 7

Antibiotic, first used to treat Tuberculosis.

Question 8

A strength of drug treatment is evidence that it is effective. Who provided this evidence?

Answer 8

Soomro et al (2008)

Reviewed 17 studies and found that all showed significantly better findings for SSRI’s than for placebo conditions.

Question 9

What is a weakness of drug treatment?

Answer 9

Side effects.

SSRI’s can cause nausea, insomnia, headaches and low sex drive.

BZ’s have been linked to addiction, therefore not recommended to be taken for more than four weeks.

Question 10

What is a further strength of drug treatments?

Answer 10

Cheap and easy.

A person can just take a drug until their anxiety subsides and this will enable them to resist obsessions and lead a normal life.

In comparison to psychological therapies that require high levels of motivation.

Question 11

What is the best solution for treating OCD?

Answer 11

Drug treatment combined with therapy.

Drug treatments alone remove the symptoms but can help people with OCD engage more effectively with CBT.

Question 12

With regards to issues and debates, what is one issue with all research on mental disorders.

Answer 12

Social Sensitivity.

There are implications for people who have OCD - research showing drugs are an effective therapy may be ‘abusing’ the people they claim to help.

This is because drugs can be seen as a ‘chemical cosh’, ie using a drug just to keep someone quiet so they do not intrude on society.