The Biological Treatment of OCD Flashcards
What is the main biological treatment for OCD?
Drug therapy
What is the most common medication for OCD?
Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors (SSRI’s)
What is the main purpose of SSRI’s?
Reduce anxiety, lower arousal and blood pressure
What is the first step in the process of how SSRI’s work?
Serotonin is released by certain neurons in the brain.
What is the second step in the process of how SSRI’s work?
Serotonin is reabsorbed by the pre-synaptic neuron where it is broken down and reused.
What is the third step in the process of how SSRI’s work?
SSRI’s prevent the reabsorption and breakdown of serotonin.
What is the fourth step in the process of how SSRI’s work?
Serotonin is released by the presynaptic neurons and travels across the synapse.
What is the fifth step in the process of how SSRI’s work?
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.
What is the sixth step in the process of how SSRI’s work?
This effectively increases the levels of serotonin in the synapse, and they continue to stimulate the post-synaptic neuron.
What is the seventh step in the process of how SSRI’s work?
This compensates for whatever is wrong with the serotonin system in OCD.
What are Benzodiazepines(BZs) used to do?
Used to reduce anxiety
What are Benzodiazepines(BZS) also known as?
Valium and Diazepam
What do Benzodiazepines do?
Slow down the activity of the central nervous system by enhancing the activity of the neurotransmitter GABA
What is GABA short for?
Gamma-aminobutyric acid
What is GABA
Neurotransmitter
What does GABA do?
Reduces the amount of firing of neurons in the brain.
How do Benzodiazepines (BZs) work?
Reacting with GABA receptors on the post-synaptic neuron.
Benzodiazepines react with GABA. What happens when it reacts?
When GABA locks into these receptors it opens a channel that increases the flow of chloride ions into the neuron.
What do chloride ions do?
Make it harder for the neuron to be stimulated by other neurotransmitters, slowing down activity and making the person more relaxed.
(EFFECTIVNESS)A weakness is that some psychologists believe that evidence favouring drug treatments is biased. What evidence is there to support this?
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.
EFFECTIVNESS)A weakness is that some psychologists believe that evidence favouring drug treatments is biased. How can this be evaluated?
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.
(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?
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.
(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?
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.
(APPROPRIATENESS) A strength is that drug therapies are cheap compared to psychological treatment. What evidence is there to support this?
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.
(APPROPRIATENESS) A strength is that drug therapies are cheap compared to psychological treatment. How can this be evaluated?
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.
(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?
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.
(APPROPRIATENESS) A weakness is that some psychologists have suggested that drug therapies are not a lasing cure for OCD. How can this be evaluated?
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.
