Biological Approach to Treating OCD Flashcards Preview

Psychopathology > Biological Approach to Treating OCD > Flashcards

Flashcards in Biological Approach to Treating OCD Deck (12)
Loading flashcards...
1
Q

biological approach to treating OCD

3

A
uses drug therapy to treat OCD, including....
• antidepressants: SSRIs
• antidepressants: tricyclics
• anti anxiety drugs
• other drugs 

easy and accessible

currently, drug therapy is the most commonly used treatment for OCD

2
Q

antidepressants: SSRIs

6

A

the most commonly used drugs for OCD are antidepressants

low levels of the neurotransmitter serotonin are associated with OCD, so antidepressants increase the level of serotonin in the body

they also reduce the anxiety associated with OCD and normalise the worry circuit

SSRIs (seratonin reuptake inhibitors) such as prozac are the preferred drug for treating OCD and other anxiety disorders

they increase serotonin levels, which regulates mood and anxiety — seratonin is implicated in behaviours such as aggression, eating, sleep and depression

they do this by blocking the reuptake of serotonin at the pre synaptic membrane, thus increasing serotonin concentration at receptor sites on the post synaptic membrane

3
Q

antidepressants: tricyclics

5

A

tricyclics are another type of antidepressant used to treat OCD

they block the transporter mechanism that reabsorbs both serotonin and noradrenaline into the pre synaptic cell

noradrenaline is found in areas of the brain involved in governing ANS activity such as blood pressure and heart rate

as a result, more seratonin and noradrenaline are left in the synapse which prolongs their activity and eases transmission of the next impulse

they target more than one neurotransmitter but have greater side effects so are used as a second resort for when SSRIs are not effective

4
Q

anti anxiety drugs

4

A

BZs (benzodiazepines) such as xanax are commonly used to reduce anxiety

they slow down the activity of the CNS by enhancing the activity of the neurotransmitter GABA (gamma aminobutyric acid) which has a quietening effect on many of the neurons in the brain

it reacts with GABA receptors on the outside of the receiving neurons, locks onto them and opens a channel that increases the flow of chloride ions into the neuron

these make it harder for the neuron to be stimulated by other neurotransmitters, thus slowing down its activity and making the person feel more relaxed

5
Q

GABA

2

A

gamma aminobutyric acid

a neurotransmitter that regulates excitement in the nervous system and reduces anxiety

6
Q

noradrenaline

2

A

a neurotransmitter found in areas is the brain involved in governing autonomic nervous system activity

such as blood pressure or heart rate

7
Q

serotonin

1

A

a neurotransmitter implicated in behaviours such as aggression, eating behaviour, sleep and depression

8
Q

other drugs

3

A

D-Cycloserine has an effect on reducing anxiety and may be an effective treatment for OCD, particularly when used in conjunction with psychotherapy

it is an antibiotic used in the treatment of tuberculosis

appears to enhance the transmission of GABA, thus reducing the anxiety associated with OCD

9
Q

x3 evaluation points

A

evidence for effectiveness

side effects

preferred treatment to other therapies

10
Q

evaluation
EVIDENCE FOR EFFECTIVENESS

4

A

there is evidence that supports the effectiveness of drug treatments

Soomro et al reviewed 17 studies relating to the use of SSRIs in OCD patients and found that SSRIs were more effective than placebos in reducing the symptoms of OCD up to 3 months after treatment

HOWEVER, most of these studies only examine the short term effects of drug therapy as they only last 3-4 months

therefore, there is little long term data supporting the use of drugs to treat OCD and there may not be a lasting cure

11
Q

evaluation
SIDE EFFECTS

5

A

drugs have side effects, some of which may be very severe

nausea, headaches and insomnia are common side effects of SSRIs — these are often enough to make the patient prefer not to take the drug

moreover, tricyclics tend to have more serious side effects such as hallucinations and irregular heartbeats

possible side effects of BZs include aggressiveness and long term impairment of memory

there are also problems with potential addiction with all of these drugs, especially BZs which is why they’re limited to a maximum period of 4 weeks

12
Q

evaluation
PREFERRED TO OTHER THERAPIES

4

A

drug therapy is often preferred to other treatments because it requires little effort from the patient and little input in terms of time

all the patient has to do is take their prescribed pills, whereas other therapies such as CBT require much more dedication as clients need to attend regular meetings and put considerable thought into tackling their problems

this is not an issue with drug therapy, making it much easier and suitable for those who struggle talking through their problems or who don’t have a lot of time for therapy — e.g. men, people with learning difficulties

cheaper for health services as they require little monitoring and are cheap compared to psychological treatments