Psychopathology - Treating OCD

Question 1

Outline the Biological Treatment for OCD (6 marker)

Answer 1

OCD
1) being diagnosed with OCD whereby low levels of serotonin is seen as a neural cause of OCD
2) there are low levels of serotonin at the synapse due to limited numbers being produced
3) GP offers SSRIs
4) SSRI’s are taken daily in a capsule form of 20mg
5) SSRIs block the re-uptaker at the synapse
6) electrical impulses stimulate the release of serotonin into the cleft
7) serotonin is unable to be reuptaken due to the blockage
8) serotonin remains in the synapse and when open, bind to receptors
9) more mood related information is sent across the brain
10) OCD symptoms, such as low mood, reduces
SYMPTOMS REDUCE

Question 2

outline how SSRIs work at a synaptic level

Question 3

outline the alternatives to the SSRIs

Question 4

brief description of the biological approach to treating OCD

Question 5

outline how the treatment may be combined with other therapies

Question 6

outline the strengths of the treatment

Question 7

outline the weaknesses of the treatment

Question 8

AO3

Answer 8

• A weakness of treating OCD is that drug therapy can have potentially serious side effects
• For example, people who take tricyclic clomipramine, there are side effects that are more common and can be more serious as more than 1 in 10 people experience erection problems and weight gain and 1 in 100 become aggressive and experience heart related problems.
• This is a weakness because it means some people could get worse or get no benefit from drug therapy as it can be quite distressing for some people
• However, some psychologists may argue that although a small minority will get no benefit, drugs such as SSRIs give help most people showing that drug therapy is reliable for almost everyone
• Despite that, drug therapy means that some people have a reduced quality of life as a result of taking drugs and may stop taking them all together, meaning the drugs cease to be effective
• Thus decreasing the validity of drug therapy to treat OCD
• Effectiveness – A strength of drug treatment for OCD is good evidence for its effectiveness
• For example, G Mustafa Soomro et al reviewed 17 studies that compared SSRIs to placebos in the treatment of OCD. All 17 studies showed significantly better outcomes for SSRIs than for placebo conditions
• This is a strength because this is clear evidence to show that SSRIs reduce symptom severity and improve the quality of life for people with OCD, showing its effectiveness.
• However, some psychologists may argue that the evidence for drug effectiveness is biased because some researchers are sponsored by drug companies and may selectively publish positive outcomes for the drug their sponsors are selling, reducing the reliability of evidence for drug therapy
• Despite that, drugs appear to be effective for most people with OCD
• Thus increasing the validity of drug therapy to treat OCD
• A weakness of drug therapy for OCD is how effective it is compared to other treatments
• For example, Peter Skapinakis et al carried out a systematic review of outcome studies and concluded that both cognitive and behavioural (exposure) therapies were more effective than SSRIs in the treatment of OCD
• This is a weakness as it shows that although drug therapy can be helpful for most people with OCD, they may not be the most effective treatment available
• However, some psychologists may argue that drug therapy is more cost effective compared to cognitive or behavioural therapy. Additionally, they may argue that drug therapy is non-disruptive to people’s lives as it does not involve time spent attending therapy sessions, increasing its reliability.
• Despite that, drugs may not be the optimum treatment for OCD as it is not as effective as other treatments
• Thus reducing the usefulness of drug therapy to treat OCD

Question 9

AO1

Answer 9

• SSRIs = antidepressant drug called Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitor, inhibitors (stops) the reuptake of serotonin selectively
• Fluoxetine
• OCD – obsessive compulsive disorder, a condition characterised by obsessions and/or compulsive behaviour. Obsessions are cognitive whereas compulsions are behavioural
• Behavioural – ways in which people act
• Emotional – related to a persons feeling or mood
• Cognitive – refers to the process of ‘knowing’ including thinking, reasoning, remembering, believing
• Drug therapy – treatment involving drugs, i.e. chemicals that have a particular effect of the functioning of the brain or some other body system. In the case of psychological disorders such drugs usually affect neurotransmitter levels