the biological approach to treating ocd Flashcards
what are the aims of drug therapy?
● in ocd, thought that neurotransmitter involved is serotonin - levels of this neurotransmitter are thought to be too low
● drug therapy aims to increase levels of this neurotransmitter - by doing so, a reduction in symptoms of ocd would occur
what does ssri’s stand for?
● selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors
● form of anti-depressant
● work on serotonin levels in the brain
● used to treat both ocd and depression
● examples of ssris:
fluoxetine (prozac)
sertraline (for under 18’s)
how do ssri’s work?
● in those with ocd, serotonin is released into the synapse but the axon (the pre-synaptic neurone) reabsorbs the serotonin too quickly - leading to lower levels of serotonin
● ssri’s work by stopping the reuptake of the neurotransmitter by blocking reuptake channels
● this means that more serotonin is found within the synapse, making it more likely to bind with the dendrite of the post synaptic neurone and send on the electrical impulse
● this then reduces the symptoms of ocd
what is the patient information?
● dosage differs from person to person because of height, age, weight and severity of symptoms
● usually start on lowest dose - 20mg
● taken daily in tablet form
● if not effective after 3 to 4 months - increased up to 60mg or given a different drug / treatment
● it may take up to 4 weeks of continuous usage before people see a reduction in symptoms
● it can take up to 3-4 months in some cases
explain combining ssri’s with cbt
● drugs are often used alongside cbt to treat ocd
● the drugs reduce a persons emotional symptoms such as feeling anxious and depressed
● this means they can engage more effectively with cbt
what are alternatives to ssri’s?
● tricyclics
● used as a second line of defence for people who do not respond to ssri’s
● they have the same effect on the serotonin system
● but the side effects can be more severe
biological approach to treating ocd evaluation
● strengths:
p: effectiveness
e: researchers carried out review of studies comparing effectiveness of placebo’s and ssri’s
typically, symptoms declined in 70% of patients taking ssri’s compared to placebo conditions
c: strength as if patients treated for symptoms like obsessions and compulsions - individuals qol improves and economy would increase as company doesn’t have to pay sick pay / cover
counter: drug treatments may be the most effective however some research suggests that some cognitive therapies may be more effective in treatment of ocd - a case by case approach should be adopted when giving treatment
p: cost effective and non-disruptive to peoples lives
e: drug treatments are cheap compared to psychological treatments - which is good value for the nhs
as compared to psychological therapies, ssris non disruptive to people lives - quicker and easier to take a drug to treat symptoms
c: matters as many people with ocd prefer drug treatments - more likely to engage with them - treat their symptoms and integrate back into society
● limitations:
p: potentially serious side effects
e: indigestion, blurred vision and loss of sex drive - side effects are usually temporary - however can be quite distressing for some and for a minority are long lasting
c: means that peoples qol may be poor as a result of the treatment - therefore, they may stop taking drugs to avoid side effects
problem as could lead to relapse in symptoms
p: treat symptoms of disorder but not the cause
e: ssris - reduce anxiety and alleviates symptoms of ocd - does not treat underlying cause of ocd - once patient stops taking drug - prone to relapse
c: matters as may be more effective to use drug therapy in combination with other therapies to cure ocd - evidence shows that ssri’s are more effective when combined with psychological therapies
