The biological approach to TREATING obsessive compulsive disorder Flashcards
Drug therapy 💊
The growing body of research suggesting that OCD has mainly biological origins implies that biological treatments may be successful in treating OCD.
Drug therapy 💊 targets abnormal neurotransmitter levels.
SSRI’s (selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors)
(Fluoxetine) (Prozac) are antidepressants that are used to reduce the anxiety associated with OCD.
SSRI’s are currently the preferred drug 💊 for treating OCD - the increased levels of the neurotransmitter serotonin - which regulates mood and anxiety.
SSRI’s work by blocking 📛 the reabsorption of serotonin at the pre-synaptic nerve; therefore leaving more serotonin available in the synapse.
The end result is there is an increased amount of serotonin available to be taken up by other neurons.
If a deficiency of serotonin is associated with the development of OCD, it is reasonable to expect drugs that increase serotonin will prove effective in treating OCD.
It can take 3 to 4 months of daily use for SSRI’s to have much impact on symptoms.
Anti - Anxiety drugs – Anxiolytic drugs 💊
Certain Anxiolytics are used to treat the anxiety associated with OCD.
Benzodiazepines (BZ’s) (Valium, diazepam) are widely used.
These work by increasing the effectiveness of a neurochemical called GABA.
GABA has a quietening effect on brain activity and this reduces the anxiety experience by OCD sufferers.
What are the evaluation points for the Biological approach to TREATING OCD in terms of its EFFECTIVENESS
1) Research support ✅
2) Not a lasting cure ⛔️
Outline the evaluation point
1) Research support ✅
Point:
Supporting research comes from Pigott and Seay 1999 they reviewed studies testing the effectiveness of drug therapies, and found SSRI’s to be consistently effective in reducing OCD symptoms.
Example:
Soomro 2008 reviewed 17 studies of the use of SSRI’s with OCD patients and found them to be more effective than placebos (fake drugs) and reducing the symptoms of OCD up to 3 months after the treatment.
Explain:
Typically, symptoms declined significantly for around 70% of patients taking SSRI’s.
Elaborate:
Of the remaining 30% alternative drug treatments or combinations of drugs and psychological treatments will be affected for some.
Re-cap:
So drugs can help most patients with OCD.
Outline the evaluation point
2) Not a lasting cure ⛔️
Point:
Unfortunately the relapse rate following discontinuation of medication is quite high.
Explain:
According to Simpson et al, 45% of patients treated with Clomipramine (SRI) relapsed back into the disorder within 12 weeks of completing the medication.
E:
This is poor in comparison to only a 12% relapse rate in the same period for those who had received psychological therapy.
E:
Drug therapy does not provide a lasting cure as indicated by the fact that patients relapsed within a few weeks if medication stopped.
Re-cap:
Suggests that, although drugs are most commonly used, psychotherapies such as CBT should be tried.
What are the evaluation points for the Biological approach to treating OCD in terms of its APPROPRIATENESS
1) Side-effects ⛔️
2) Preferred treatment ✅
Outline the evaluation point
1) Side-effects ⛔️
• Drug therapy is not appropriate for all patients with OCD as some may suffer from side-effects. Common side effects when taking SSRI’s include nausea, headache, insomnia, loss of sex drive, indigestion and blurred vision.
• Anti-anxiety effects
Possible side-effects of BZ‘s Are aggressiveness, long-term impairment of memory and addiction. Side-effects reduce the effectiveness of the drug because people might stop taking the medication. Psychological therapies may be a more appropriate choice of therapy for those who experience side-effects from drug therapy.
Greist has found that ERPT (exposure and ritual prevention therapy) was just as an effective treatment for OCD as drugs and did not have the side-effects and high relapse rates associated with drug treatment.
Outline the evaluation
2) Preferred treatment ✅
Point:
Drug therapy is a preferred treatment for OCD
Explain:
because it is non-disruptive to the patient’s life as it requires little effort from the user and little input in terms of time; compared to CBT where the patient has to attend regular appointments.
Example:
From the point of view of the health service, drugs are good value, as they are cheaper than psychological therapies partly because they don’t require therapist to administer them.
Elaborate:
However, drug therapy is not successful for all OCD sufferers, which suggests that the causes of OCD may not originate solely with levels of serotonin and there are other factors that play a role in its origins.
Re-cap:
Therefore, an Eclectic Approach to therapy may be more successful.
