Biological Approach to Treating OCD

Question 1

AO1 biological approach to treating OCD

Answer 1

• SSRIs = antidepressant drug called Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitor, inhibitors (stops) the reuptake of serotonin selectively
• Fluoxetine
• OCD – obsessive compulsive disorder, a condition characterised by obsessions and/or compulsive behaviour. Obsessions are cognitive whereas compulsions are behavioural
• Behavioural – ways in which people act
• Emotional – related to a persons feeling or mood
• Cognitive – refers to the process of ‘knowing’ including thinking, reasoning, remembering, believing
• Drug therapy – treatment involving drugs, i.e. chemicals that have a particular effect of the functioning of the brain or some other body system. In the case of psychological disorders such drugs usually affect neurotransmitter levels

Question 2

AO3 (1) biological approach to treating OCD

Answer 2

• A weakness of treating OCD is that drug therapy can have potentially serious side effects
• For example, people who take tricyclic clomipramine, there are side effects that are more common and can be more serious as more than 1 in 10 people experience erection problems and weight gain and 1 in 100 become aggressive and experience heart related problems.
• This is a weakness because it means some people could get worse or get no benefit from drug therapy as it can be quite distressing for some people
• However, some psychologists may argue that although a small minority will get no benefit, drugs such as SSRIs give help most people showing that drug therapy is reliable for almost everyone
• Despite that, drug therapy means that some people have a reduced quality of life as a result of taking drugs and may stop taking them all together, meaning the drugs cease to be effective
• Thus decreasing the validity of drug therapy to treat OCD

Question 3

AO3 (2) biological approach to treating OCD

Answer 3

• Effectiveness – A strength of drug treatment for OCD is good evidence for its effectiveness
• For example, G Mustafa Soomro et al reviewed 17 studies that compared SSRIs to placebos in the treatment of OCD. All 17 studies showed significantly better outcomes for SSRIs than for placebo conditions
• This is a strength because this is clear evidence to show that SSRIs reduce symptom severity and improve the quality of life for people with OCD, showing its effectiveness.
• However, some psychologists may argue that the evidence for drug effectiveness is biased because some researchers are sponsored by drug companies and may selectively publish positive outcomes for the drug their sponsors are selling, reducing the reliability of evidence for drug therapy
• Despite that, drugs appear to be effective for most people with OCD
• Thus increasing the validity of drug therapy to treat OCD

Question 4

AO3 (3) biological approach to treating OCD

Answer 4

• A weakness of drug therapy for OCD is how effective it is compared to other treatments
• For example, Peter Skapinakis et al carried out a systematic review of outcome studies and concluded that both cognitive and behavioural (exposure) therapies were more effective than SSRIs in the treatment of OCD
• This is a weakness as it shows that although drug therapy can be helpful for most people with OCD, they may not be the most effective treatment available
• However, some psychologists may argue that drug therapy is more cost effective compared to cognitive or behavioural therapy. Additionally, they may argue that drug therapy is non-disruptive to people’s lives as it does not involve time spent attending therapy sessions, increasing its reliability.
• Despite that, drugs may not be the optimum treatment for OCD as it is not as effective as other treatments
• Thus reducing the usefulness of drug therapy to treat OCD

Question 5

explain the ao3s for the biological approach to treating OCD

Answer 5

weakness - drug therapy = potential serious side effects, ppl who take tricyclic clomipramine there are side effects like 1 in 10 having erection problems/weight gain or 1 in 100 having heart problems, could get worse for some ppl or no benefit so distressing for some, however small minority will get no benefit and drugs like SSRIs reliable for almost everyone, despite this some ppl have reduced quality of life due to drug therapy and may stop taking them, meaning they cease to be effective

strength - evidence for its effectiveness, G Mustafa Soomro et al reviewed 17 studies comparing SSRIs to placebos in OCD treatment and all 17 showed significantly better outcomes for SSRIs than for placebo conditions, showing SSRIs reduce symptom severity + improve quality of life for some ppl, however biased cuz some researched sponsored by drug companies so selectively publish positive stuff, despite this appear to be effective for most with OCD

weakness - how effective compared to other treatments, Peter Skapinakis et al carried out systematic review that concluded both cognitive and behavioural (exposure) therapies were more effective than SSRIs with the treatment of OCD so it can be helpful for most but not the most effective, however more cost effective and non-disruptive to ppls lives with repeated sessions etc., despite this may noy be the optimum treatment for OCD as not as effective as other treatments

Question 6

drug therapy info

Answer 6

Drugs aim to increase or decrease the level of neurotransmitters in the brain. In relation to OCD, drug therapy consists of drugs that increase levels of the neurotransmitter serotonin.

Question 7

what are SSRIs

Answer 7

SSRIs (selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor) are a type of antidepressant drug which prevent the re-absorption and breakdown of serotonin. This results in more serotonin being made available in the synapse. Increasing levels of serotonin can result in improved symptoms for the sufferer.

Question 8

how do SSRIs work

Answer 8

How SSRI’s work: (links to synaptic transmission from Biopsychology topic)
 When serotonin is released from the pre
synaptic neuron into the synapse, it travels,
and binds, to the receptors on the post-synaptic neuron.
 Serotonin which is not absorbed into the
post-synaptic neuron is reabsorbed into the
pre-synaptic neuron.
 SSRIs increase the level of serotonin
available in the synapse by preventing it
from being reabsorbed into the pre- synaptic
neuron cell.
 This results in more serotonin being received by the post-synaptic neuron.

Question 9

extra info for drug therapy

Answer 9

One type of SSRI is Fluoxetine. If SSRIs prove
ineffective then the dose can be increased or it
can be combined with other drugs. Sometimes
alternative drugs are given as patients can respond differently to different drugs. Two other examples of drug treatments are; Tricyclics, which have the same effect as SSRI’s (however these are generally only used when patients do not respond to SSRIs as the side effects are more severe) and SNRIs, which are newly developed anti-depressants that increase the level of serotonin and noradrenaline.

Question 10

strengths of biological approach to treat OCD

Answer 10

effectiveness of drug therapies in treating OCD, lots of research studies show SSRIs work like the one compared to placebos

Question 11

what’s the most common treatment for OCD

Answer 11

As a treatment for OCD, it is common for drugs to be used alongside other treatments, such as CBT.

Question 12

limitations of biological approach to treating OCD

Answer 12

appropriateness of drug therapies as a treatment for OCD - number of side effects like loss of appetite, loss of sex drive, irritability, sleep pattern disturbance

effectiveness and appropriateness of drug therapies as treatment for OCD - can reduce obsessive thoughts and compulsive behaviour to a normal lifestyle level but does not ‘cure’ OCD