The Biological Treatment of OCD

Question 1

What is the main biological treatment for OCD?

Answer 1

Drug therapy

Question 2

What is the most common medication for OCD?

Answer 2

Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors (SSRI’s)

Question 3

What is the main purpose of SSRI’s?

Answer 3

Reduce anxiety, lower arousal and blood pressure

Question 4

What is the first step in the process of how SSRI’s work?

Answer 4

Serotonin is released by certain neurons in the brain.

Question 5

What is the second step in the process of how SSRI’s work?

Answer 5

Serotonin is reabsorbed by the pre-synaptic neuron where it is broken down and reused.

Question 6

What is the third step in the process of how SSRI’s work?

Answer 6

SSRI’s prevent the reabsorption and breakdown of serotonin.

Question 7

What is the fourth step in the process of how SSRI’s work?

Answer 7

Serotonin is released by the presynaptic neurons and travels across the synapse.

Question 8

What is the fifth step in the process of how SSRI’s work?

Answer 8

Serotonin binds to the receptor sites on the post-synaptic neuron and conveys the signal from the pre-synaptic neuron to the post-synaptic neuron.

Question 9

What is the sixth step in the process of how SSRI’s work?

Answer 9

This effectively increases the levels of serotonin in the synapse, and they continue to stimulate the post-synaptic neuron.

Question 10

What is the seventh step in the process of how SSRI’s work?

Answer 10

This compensates for whatever is wrong with the serotonin system in OCD.

Question 11

What are Benzodiazepines(BZs) used to do?

Answer 11

Used to reduce anxiety

Question 12

What are Benzodiazepines(BZS) also known as?

Answer 12

Valium and Diazepam

Question 13

What do Benzodiazepines do?

Answer 13

Slow down the activity of the central nervous system by enhancing the activity of the neurotransmitter GABA

Question 14

What is GABA short for?

Answer 14

Gamma-aminobutyric acid

Question 15

What is GABA

Answer 15

Neurotransmitter

Question 16

What does GABA do?

Answer 16

Reduces the amount of firing of neurons in the brain.

Question 17

How do Benzodiazepines (BZs) work?

Answer 17

Reacting with GABA receptors on the post-synaptic neuron.

Question 18

Benzodiazepines react with GABA. What happens when it reacts?

Answer 18

When GABA locks into these receptors it opens a channel that increases the flow of chloride ions into the neuron.

Question 19

What do chloride ions do?

Answer 19

Make it harder for the neuron to be stimulated by other neurotransmitters, slowing down activity and making the person more relaxed.

Question 20

(EFFECTIVNESS)A weakness is that some psychologists believe that evidence favouring drug treatments is biased. What evidence is there to support this?

Answer 20

Research is sponsored by drug companies who do not report all evidence leading to doctors making inappropriate treatment decisions that are not in the best interest of the client.

Question 21

EFFECTIVNESS)A weakness is that some psychologists believe that evidence favouring drug treatments is biased. How can this be evaluated?

Answer 21

Long-term economic implications as patients are not fully recovering and relying on ineffective treatments.
Meaning not being able to go back to work or longer periods of hospitalisation = expensive.

Question 22

(EFFECTIVNESS) A strength is that there is clear evidence of the effectiveness of SSRI’s in reducing the severity of symptoms of OCD. What evidence is there to support this?

Answer 22

A review compared SRRI’s to placebos and showed better results for SSRI’s than placebos. Effectiveness SSRI’s is greatest when combines with a psychological treatment such as CBT.

Question 23

(EFFECTIVNESS) A strength is that there is clear evidence of the effectiveness of SSRI’s in reducing the severity of symptoms of OCD. How can this be evaluated?

Answer 23

There is usefulness to patients receiving SSRI’s. Should not be considered the sole treatment. Has positive economic implications as it saves workplaces money paying sick pay.

Question 24

(APPROPRIATENESS) A strength is that drug therapies are cheap compared to psychological treatment. What evidence is there to support this?

Answer 24

Drugs to treat OCD are good value for public health systems (NHS).
SSRI’s are also less disruptive to patients’ lives. You take the drug rather than engaging in therapy.

Question 25

(APPROPRIATENESS) A strength is that drug therapies are cheap compared to psychological treatment. How can this be evaluated?

Answer 25

Positive economic implications for health services over psychological therapies.
Quickly treat patients to ensure they can attend school/work and contribute back to society by paying taxes and fund the NHS.

Question 26

(APPROPRIATENESS) A weakness is that some psychologists have suggested that drug therapies are not a lasing cure for OCD. What evidence is there to support this?

Answer 26

That patients often relapse within a few weeks if medication is stopped. Drugs reduced anxiety associated with OCD to such a level that a normal lifestyle can be achieved. They don’t change cognitions or behaviours.

Question 27

(APPROPRIATENESS) A weakness is that some psychologists have suggested that drug therapies are not a lasing cure for OCD. How can this be evaluated?

Answer 27

Drug therapy may require little effort and relatively effective in the short term not appropriate in long term.
More treatments should be considered that aren’t drug based.