biological approach to treating OCD

how do SSRI’s work

• OCD is thought to involve low serotonin levels, which may cause obsessive thoughts and compulsions.

• SSRIs block the reabsorption (reuptake) of serotonin in the brain → more serotonin is available in the synapse → improved mood and reduced OCD symptoms.

• Common SSRIs: Fluoxetine (Prozac).

• Typical course: 10–12 weeks before full effect.

how does drug therapy work

• aims to increase or decrease levels of neurotransmitters in the brain or alter their activity

what is the name for SSRI’s

selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor

drugs and CBT

• drugs are often used alongside CBT to treat OCD

• these drugs reduce a patients emotional symptoms, such as feeling anxious or depressed

• this means the patient can engage more effectively with the CBT

what is a neurotransmitter

a chemical messenger in the body

its function is to transmit signals from nerve cells to target cells

what is alternatives to SSRI’s

1. tricyclics

2. SNRIs

explain tricyclics

• older type of antidepressant

• same effects as SSRIs on serotonin system

• has more severe side effects so are generally kept for patients who do not respond to SSRI’s

explain SNRIs

• serationin noradrenaline reuptake inhibitors

• second line of defence for patients who do not respond to SSRIs

• SNRIs increase levels of serationin as well as other neurotransmitters like noradrenaline

evaluation points

1. evidence of effectivness

2. drug treatments = cheap

3. significant minority = nor benefit

4. controversial

evaluation - supporting evidence

P: there is clear evidence of the effectiveness of SSRI in reducing the severity of OCD symptoms so improving the quality of life of patience

E: soomro reviewed the studies comparing SSRIs to placebos and concluded that all 17 studies showed significantly better results for the SSRI than the placebo conditions

L: with SSRI typically 70% of patients taking SSRIs showed a decline of symptoms

evaluation - cheap

P: an advantage of drug treatments in general is that they are cheap compared to the psychological treatments

E: using drugs to treat OCD is a good value for the NHS. SSRI are non-destructive to a patient's life whereas psychotherapy is cognitively demanding.

L: many doctors and patients like drugs for this reason. Also this means that drugs and treatment in general are more effective as they are more accessible meaning a larger number of the population is able to access them and therefore get help.

evaluation - no benefit

P: although drug drugs like SSRI are often helpful a significant minority of patience will get no benefit

E: side effects can also include indigestion, blurred vision and loss of sex drive. These side effects are usually temporary.

E: for those taking free one and 10 people will experience erection problems tremors and weight gain gain one in 100 people will become aggressive and suffered disruption to blood pressure and heart rhythm

L: this reduces the effectiveness because people will stop taking their medication

evaluation - controversial

P: although SSRI is a fairly effective and any side effective are likely to be short term they remain controversial

E: some psychologist believe the evidence favouring drug treatment is biased because the research is sponsored by drug companies who do not report all evidence

L: This is the problem because it decreases the reliability of the results in both the psychologists and patience eyes meaning that the drugs are less likely to be used therefore less effective as people do not trust.