Psychopathology - Biological Approach To Treating OCD Flashcards
What is the biological approach to treating OCD?
Drug therapy is a treatment involving drugs, i.e., chemicals that have a particular effect on the functioning of the brain or some other body system. In the case of psychological disorders, such drugs usually affect neurotransmitter levels.
How do SSRIs work in treating OCD?
SSRIs (Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors) work on the serotonin system in the brain. Serotonin is released by certain neurons and travels across a synapse. SSRIs prevent the reabsorption and breakdown of serotonin, effectively increasing its levels in the synapse and continuing to stimulate the postsynaptic neuron. A typical daily dose of Fluoxetine is 20mg, which may be increased if not effective. It takes three to four months of daily use for SSRIs to have much impact on symptoms.
How are SSRIs combined with other treatments?
SSRIs are often used alongside cognitive behaviour therapy (CBT) to treat OCD. The drugs reduce a patient’s emotional symptoms, allowing them to engage more effectively with CBT. In practice, some people respond better to CBT alone, while others benefit more from drugs like Fluoxetine.
What are some alternatives to SSRIs?
When SSRIs are not effective after three to four months, the dose can be increased (e.g., up to 60mg a day for Fluoxetine) or other drugs tried. Alternatives include:
Tricyclics: Have the same effect on the serotonin system as SSRIs but with more severe side-effects.
SNRIs: Increase levels of serotonin and noradrenaline, used for patients who do not respond to SSRIs.
What is one evaluation point about the effectiveness of drug therapy?
Drug therapy is effective at tackling OCD symptoms. Soomro et al. (2009) reviewed studies comparing SSRIs to placebos and found that SSRIs significantly reduced OCD symptoms for around 70% of patients. The effectiveness is greatest when SSRIs are combined with CBT.
What is one evaluation point about the cost and practicality of drug therapy?
Drugs are cost-effective and non-disruptive. Compared to psychological treatments, SSRIs are cheaper and less time-consuming. This makes them good for public health systems like the NHS and ensures patients can take them without actively engaging in therapy.
What is one evaluation point about the side effects of drug treatments?
Drugs like SSRIs can have side-effects such as indigestion, blurred vision, and loss of sex drive. Tricyclics often have more severe side-effects, such as tremors and weight gain, which reduce adherence to treatment.
What is one evaluation point about the evidence for drug treatments?
Evidence for drug treatments may be unreliable. Research sponsored by drug companies is often biased, as they do not report all the evidence (Goldacre 2013). This questions the validity of some studies supporting drug treatments.
