The biological approach to treating OCD Flashcards
What is the common biological treatment of OCD?
Drug therapy
What is the most commonly prescribed drug for OCD?
Antidepressants
What is the premise of using antidepressants to treat OCD?
They increase serotonin levels
What does SSRI stand for?
Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors
What do SSRIs do?
Increase serotonin levels
How do SSRIs work?
They block the serotonin reuptake sites on the pre-synaptic membrane, which forces serotonin to bind to the post-synaptic membrane
What is tricyclic clomipramine?
An antidepressant used to treat OCD
How do tricyclics work?
They block the transporter mechanism that reabsorbs serotonin and noradrenaline
Why are tricyclics advantageous?
They target more than one neurotransmitter
Why are tricyclics disadvantageous?
They have greater side effects
What are benzodiazepines?
Anti-anxiety drugs
What do benzodiazepines do?
Slow down the activity of the CNS
How do benzodiazepines slow down the activity of the CNS?
They enhance the activity of a neurotransmitter called GABA
What effect does GABA have?
It has a general quietening effect on neurons in the brain
How does GABA work?
It binds to GABA receptors, which causes an influx of chloride ions
What effect do chloride ions have on neurons?
They make it harder for the neuron to be stimulated
What is D-Cycloserine>
An antibiotic used to treat tuberculosis, which enhances GABA transmission
What are the 4 AO3 points of the biological approach to treating OCD?
1) Side effects
2) Effectiveness
3) Realistic treatment
4) Publication bias
What are common side effects of SSRIs? (3)
Nausea, headaches and insomnia
Why do side effects limit the effectiveness of drug therapy?
They can drive people to stop taking their drugs
What are the side effects of tricyclics?
Hallucinations and arrhythmias
What type of behaviour can benzodiazepines cause?
Aggressive behaviour
Why are benzodiazepines problematic?
They are addictive
How many studies were included in the meta-analysis that investigated the effectiveness of SSRIs on treating OCD?
17
What did the meta-analysis that investigated the effectiveness of SSRIs on treating OCD find?
That SSRIs were more effective at reducing the symptoms of OCD compared to placebo drugs
What is the limitation of the studies in the SSRI meta-analysis?
Most of the studies only had a duration of 3-4 months, so the long term effects are unknown
What doesn’t drug therapy require that CBT does?
Effort and time
Why are drug therapies cheaper for the NHS?
They require much less monitoring and cost much less than psychological treatments
Why may CBT be more cost effective than drug therapy in the long run?
They equip patients with the skills to challenge their disorder, whereas drug therapy provides temporary relief
In terms of drug therapy as a treatment of OCD, what is there a publication bias towards?
Studies that show a positive outcome of antidepressants
In what way is there a publication bias towards positive outcomes of antidepressants?
Positive outcomes were over exaggerated + studies that found non-positive results were often published in a way that conveyed a positive outcomes
Who typically funds research into drug theraoy?
Big drug companies
Why is it in drug companies best interests for drug therapies to have positive outcomes?
It benefits them financially
