biological treatment of OCD

• Biological treatments for OCD aim to restore chemical imbalances in the brain since this is assumed to be the main cause of the disorder
• Two types of drug therapy used in the treatment of OCD:

  Antidepressant drugs

  Anti anxiety drugs
• Choy et al found that SSRI s, a type of anti depressant, are the preferred treatment option for OCD. These improve mood and reduce the anxiety experienced by patients with OCD
• Serotonin that is not absorbed into the post synaptic neuron during synaptic transmission is reabsorbed into the sending cell. SSRI s prevent it from being reabsorbed, which improves the concentration of serotonin at the receptor sites on the post synaptic neuron
• Benzodiazepines ( BZs ) are a range of anti anxiety drugs. They enhance the action of GABA. GABA tells neurons in the brain to slow down, meaning that BZs are generally able to quiet brain influence and lessen anxiety, which is experienced as a result of obsessive thoughts common in OCD
• AO3. There is research support for the effectiveness of biological treatments of OCD. Randomised drug trials compared the effectiveness of SSRIs and a placebo. Soomro conducted a review of research examining SSRIs and found that they were significantly more effective than placebos in the treatment of OCD, across 17 different trials. This supports the use of biological treatments. However, studies like this are criticised for only concluding the short term effectiveness of drug treatments with long term effects still to be investigated empirically
• AO3. Biological treatments of OCD are cost effective. Drug therapies such as SSRIs and Bzs are cost effective compared to psychological treatments like CBT. Many doctors prefer the use of drugs, as they are more cost effective, making this beneficial to healthcare providers. Also, treatment like CBT requires the patient to be motivated, whereas drugs are non disruptive to daily life, and can simply be taken until the symptoms subside.
• AO3. There are possible side effects of drugs like SSRIs and BZs. Although evidence suggests that they are effective in treating OCD, some patients experience side effects like indigestion, hallucinations and raised blood pressure. BZs are also renowned for being highly addictive and can cause increased aggression and memory loss in the long term. They are recommended for short term treatment of only up to four weeks. This means that patients may not want to take their medication due to the side effects
• AO3. Drug therapies are criticised for treating the symptoms of the disorder and not the cause. Although SSRIs work by increasing the levels of serotonin in the brain, reducing anxiety and symptoms of OCD, it does not treat the underlying cause of OCD. Also, when a patient stops taking the drug, they are prone to relapse. It is suggested that psychological treatments are more effective in the long term.