The biological approach to treating OCD

Question 1

What is the common biological treatment of OCD?

Answer 1

Drug therapy

Question 2

What is the most commonly prescribed drug for OCD?

Answer 2

Antidepressants

Question 3

What is the premise of using antidepressants to treat OCD?

Answer 3

They increase serotonin levels

Question 4

What does SSRI stand for?

Answer 4

Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors

Question 5

What do SSRIs do?

Answer 5

Increase serotonin levels

Question 6

How do SSRIs work?

Answer 6

They block the serotonin reuptake sites on the pre-synaptic membrane, which forces serotonin to bind to the post-synaptic membrane

Question 7

What is tricyclic clomipramine?

Answer 7

An antidepressant used to treat OCD

Question 8

How do tricyclics work?

Answer 8

They block the transporter mechanism that reabsorbs serotonin and noradrenaline

Question 9

Why are tricyclics advantageous?

Answer 9

They target more than one neurotransmitter

Question 10

Why are tricyclics disadvantageous?

Answer 10

They have greater side effects

Question 11

What are benzodiazepines?

Answer 11

Anti-anxiety drugs

Question 12

What do benzodiazepines do?

Answer 12

Slow down the activity of the CNS

Question 13

How do benzodiazepines slow down the activity of the CNS?

Answer 13

They enhance the activity of a neurotransmitter called GABA

Question 14

What effect does GABA have?

Answer 14

It has a general quietening effect on neurons in the brain

Question 15

How does GABA work?

Answer 15

It binds to GABA receptors, which causes an influx of chloride ions

Question 16

What effect do chloride ions have on neurons?

Answer 16

They make it harder for the neuron to be stimulated

Question 17

What is D-Cycloserine>

Answer 17

An antibiotic used to treat tuberculosis, which enhances GABA transmission

Question 18

What are the 4 AO3 points of the biological approach to treating OCD?

Answer 18

1) Side effects
2) Effectiveness
3) Realistic treatment
4) Publication bias

Question 19

What are common side effects of SSRIs? (3)

Answer 19

Nausea, headaches and insomnia

Question 20

Why do side effects limit the effectiveness of drug therapy?

Answer 20

They can drive people to stop taking their drugs

Question 21

What are the side effects of tricyclics?

Answer 21

Hallucinations and arrhythmias

Question 22

What type of behaviour can benzodiazepines cause?

Answer 22

Aggressive behaviour

Question 23

Why are benzodiazepines problematic?

Answer 23

They are addictive

Question 24

How many studies were included in the meta-analysis that investigated the effectiveness of SSRIs on treating OCD?

Answer 24

17

Question 25

What did the meta-analysis that investigated the effectiveness of SSRIs on treating OCD find?

Answer 25

That SSRIs were more effective at reducing the symptoms of OCD compared to placebo drugs

Question 26

What is the limitation of the studies in the SSRI meta-analysis?

Answer 26

Most of the studies only had a duration of 3-4 months, so the long term effects are unknown

Question 27

What doesn't drug therapy require that CBT does?

Answer 27

Effort and time

Question 28

Why are drug therapies cheaper for the NHS?

Answer 28

They require much less monitoring and cost much less than psychological treatments

Question 29

Why may CBT be more cost effective than drug therapy in the long run?

Answer 29

They equip patients with the skills to challenge their disorder, whereas drug therapy provides temporary relief

Question 30

In terms of drug therapy as a treatment of OCD, what is there a publication bias towards?

Answer 30

Studies that show a positive outcome of antidepressants

Question 31

In what way is there a publication bias towards positive outcomes of antidepressants?

Answer 31

Positive outcomes were over exaggerated + studies that found non-positive results were often published in a way that conveyed a positive outcomes

Question 32

Who typically funds research into drug theraoy?

Answer 32

Big drug companies

Question 33

Why is it in drug companies best interests for drug therapies to have positive outcomes?

Answer 33

It benefits them financially