psychopathology - biological approach to treating OCD

Question 1

drug therapy - AO1
intro

Answer 1

• drug therapy = biological treatment for OCD
• works by balancing levels of neurotransmitters
• to relieve OCD symptoms
  (1 MARK)

Question 2

drug therapy - AO1
SSRI’s

Answer 2

• antidepressant drug = Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors/SSRIS’s
• serotonin agonist
  (2 MARKS)
• SSRI’s work by blocking reuptake of serotonin in pre-synaptic neuron
• so post-synaptic neuron is activated
  (3 MARKS)
• shown to reduce anxiety associated with OCD (4 MARKS)
• usually takes around 3/4 months to aleviate OCD symptoms
• dosage can vary
  (5 MARKS)

Question 3

drug therapy - AO1
SNRI’s

Answer 3

• another antidepressant = SNRI’s
• increases serotonin and noradrenaline activity
• used if SSRI’s not effective
  (6 MARKS)

Question 4

research to support - AO3
Soomoro et al (2009)

Answer 4

P - research to support
- effectiveness of drug therapy
- Soomro et al (2009)

E - reviewed 17 studies of people with OCD tasking SSRIS’s
- more effective than placebos

E - 70% symptoms reduced
- remaining 30% can be treated with alternative drugs/psychological therapies

L - shows effectiveness of drug therapy

Question 5

soomoro et al - AO3 research to support
COUNTER ARGUEMENT

Answer 5

P - drug treatments may be helpful
- not most effective

E - Skapinakis et al (2016)
- systematic review of outcome studies

E - found cognitive and behavioural techniques = more effective

L - suggests drug treatment is not optimum treatment

Question 6

Strength - AO3
little motivation

THINK FURTHER

Answer 6

P - drug therapy effective
- requires little motivation/comittment from patients

E - only have to remember to take tablet
- to reduce OCD symptoms

E - unlike CBT
- requires motivation to challenge irrational thoughts/obsessions

L - patients prefer OCD symptoms

THINK FURTHER:
- cost effective
- benefits NHS and economy
- money can be spent elsewhere to benefit society

Question 7

Weakness - AO3
negative side effects

Answer 7

P - may not be effective
- due to negative side effects

E - e.g. nausea/headaches/insomnia (Soomro et al)

E - causes patient to become distressed
- may stop taking medication
- due to negative side effects

L - decreases effectiveness

Question 8

Weakness - AO3
negative side effects

Answer 8

P - may not be effective
- due to negative side effects

E - e.g. nausea/headaches/insomnia (Soomro et al)

E - causes patient to become distressed
- may stop taking medication
- due to negative side effects

L - decreases effectiveness