The biological approach to treating OCD
- Created by: tenerife101
- Created on: 18-12-18 09:38
View mindmap
- The biological approach to treating OCD
- DRUG THERAPY
- Changing levels of neurotransmit-ters = drug therapy aims to increase or decrease levels or activity
- Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRIs) = these prevent the re-absorption or breakdown of serotonin - to increase levels in the synapse and compensate for what is wrong.
- Typical dosage = Fluoxetine is often 20mg - they need to be taken daily for 3-4 months to have an impact on symptoms
- SSRIs and CBT = drugs reduce emotional symptoms so patients can engage more with CBT
- TRICYCLICS = same as SSRIs but have more severe side effects Clomipramine
- SNRIs = serotonin noradrenaline reuptake inhibitor - increase serotonin as well as noradrenaline
- EVALUATION
- A strength is that drug therapy is effective at combating symptoms = Soomro et al (2009) showed SSRIs compared to placebos were much better
- Another strength is that drugs are cost-effective and non-disruptive = cheap and so good value for the NHS, they also don't require the hardwork of CBT
- A limitation is that the drugs have side-effects = indigestion, blurred vision.
- A further limitation is that evidence is unreliable = some believe evidence favouring drug treatments are biased as sponsored by drug companies
- Another limitation is that OCD can sometimes occur after trauma = so it may not be appropriate to treat with drugs
- DRUG THERAPY
Comments
No comments have yet been made