The biological approach to treating OCD

Question 1

AO1- ssris triyclics

Answer 1

-Drugs used to increase levels of serotonin are used to treat ocd by reducing the anxiety that comes with it, can normalise the worry circuit
-Serotonin is released into a synpase from one nerve. This targets receptor cells on the receiving neuron and receptor sites and afterwards is re absorbed by the initial neuron sending the message
- In order to increase levels of serotonin at the synapse and increase stimulation to the recieving neuron, re-uptake is inhibited by ssris
-Tricylics block the transporter mechanism that re absorbs both seritonin and noradrenaline into the pre-synaptic cell after it has fired, this means more of these neurotransmitters are left at the synapse prolonging their activity
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Question 2

AO1 anti anxiety drugs

Answer 2

• Slow down the CNS by enhancing the activity of GABA which when released has a general quietening effecon the brain neurons
• It does this by reacting with GABA sites on the outside of receiving neurons, When GABA locks into these receptors it releases a channel inc the flow of chloride ions into the neuron
  This makes it harder for the neuron to be stimulated by other neurotransmitter sslwoing it down helping the person feel more relaxed

Question 3

AO3 support

Answer 3

• Considerable effectiveness
• Randomised control trial was used to compare the effectiveness of a real drug against a placebo
• Sommoro et al 2008 reviewed 17 studies of the use of ssris with ocd patients and found them to be more effective than placebos in reducing symptoms of ocd for more than 3 months after treatment
  However lack of short term data is a limitation

Question 4

AO3 limitation, not a lasting cure

Answer 4

Mania et al 2001 found patients relapse within a few weeks if medication is stopped
Koran et al 2007 in a comprehensive review of treatments for ocd is sponsored by the American psychaitric association, suggested that although drug therapy may be more commonly used, psychotherapies should be tried first
- Although drugs require little effort and time, does not provide a lasting cure

Question 5

AO3 limitation bias

Answer 5

• Publication bias
• Turner et al 2008 shows there is evidence of publication bias towards studies that show positive outcomes of an antidepressant treatment, thus exaggerating the benefits of antidepressnt drugs
• Not only publishigs were bias, they were published in a way that conveyed a positive outcome
• Such selective publication can lead doctors to make inappropriate decisions that may not be in best interest of their patients

Question 6

AO3 side effects limitation

Answer 6

Sommoro et al 2008- nauesa insomnia and headaches are common side effects of taking antidepressants, can be enough to make a patient stop taking the drugs
- Tricylics can usually have more side effects than just this such as hallucinations
- BZs may cause increased aggresiveness and long term impairement of memory
- Side effects and possibility of addiction limits the usefulness of these drugs for ocd