4.1.4 BIOLOGICAL APPROACH TO TREATING OCD

Question 1

what are the biological treatments of OCD?

Answer 1

• the biological approach explains OCD through the biological makeup of the individual
• it also explains the treatments of OCD through biological treatments
• the main biological treatment is the use of drug treatments, which affect the functioning of the brain and neurotransmitter levels

Question 2

what are SSRIs?

Answer 2

SSRIs (Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors)
- they work solely on the neurotransmitter serotonin which is associated with OCD
- they inhibit the re-uptake/absorption of serotonin which happens too fast in ppl with OCD
- by preventing this and the breakdown of serotonin, SSRIs effectively increase levels of serotonin in the synapse
- this results in the neurotransmitter remaining active in influencing the post-synaptic neuron
- the average time for them to take effect is 4 months before they impact on symptoms

Question 3

what are SNRIs?

Answer 3

SNRIs (Serotonin-Noradrenaline Reuptake Inhibitors)
- work in a similar way to SSRIs
- but they increase levels of serotonin, they also increase noradrenaline

Question 4

what are tricyclics?

Answer 4

• reserved for those that SSRIs don’t work for
• it’s an older antidepressant and has more sever side effects than SSRIs

Question 5

what are benzodiazepines?

Answer 5

• range of anti-anxiety drugs
• they enhance the action of the neurotransmitter GABA
  (gamma-aminobutyric acid)
• GABA tells neurones in the brain to ‘slow down’ and ‘stop firing’ and about 40% of these neurones respond
• have a general quietening influence on the brain
• consequently reduces anxiety caused by the obsessive thoughts experienced by OCD patients

Question 6

what are some strengths of biological treatments of OCD?

Answer 6

1) evidence of effectiveness
- drug therapy doesn’t cure OCD but it allows for a significant improvement in patients lives

2) cost effective
- drug therapy is cost-effective as they’re cheaper than other psychological treatments

3) non-disruptive
- non-disruptive to people’s lives as they don’t need to give up time to attend therapy

Question 7

what are some limitations of the biological treatments of OCD?

Answer 7

1) side effects
- can have potentially serious side effects
- high relapse rates once patients stop taking the drug

2) publication bias
- been shown that positive results are more likely to be published than not

3) Simpson (2004)
- found that 45% of cases in 12 weeks relapsed
- compared to only 12% of patients who had CBT