Drug Therapy

• Increase/decrease levels of chemicals


  Like dopamine or oxytocin to help with depression, anxiety
• Some drugs can block neurotransmitters


  For example, block dopamine to reduce schizophrenia
• Limbic System


  • Targeting specific areas of the brain to change behaviours using drug therapy
  • Regulates emotions
  • Disturbances in this part of the brain may affect mood for anxiety and stress
• These are antipsychotics, antidepressants, and anti-anxiety drugs.
• Main components/Principles of drug therapy

  • The patient takes the drug as prescribed
  • The patient returns to the medical professional for a check-up
  • The medical professional monitors the patient's behaviour
  • The medical professional decides if the patient needs to continue with the same drug or switch to another type of drug therapy
• The medical professional makes a diagnosis as to the type of disorder the individual displays
• Psychoactive drugs


  • Antipsychotics
  • Antidepressants
  • Anti-anxiety drugs
• Conventional antipsychotics


  Treat schizophrenia by blocking dopamine receptors in the brain
• Atypical antipsychotics


  Treat schizophrenia and bipolar disorder by partially blocking dopamine receptors in the brain
• Beta-blockers


  Treat anxiety by blocking the release of stress hormones like norepinephrine
• Benzodiazepines


  Treat anxiety and insomnia by facilitating the binding of the inhibitory neurotransmitter GABA in the central nervous system
• SSRIs


  Treat depression, anxiety, OCD by inhibiting the reuptake of the neurotransmitter serotonin
• Tricyclic antidepressants


  Treat depression by inhibiting the reuptake of the neurotransmitters serotonin and norepinephrine
• MAOIs


  Treat depression by removing/reducing serotonin and norepinephrine
• Drug treatment can often be a quick and easy method compared to other therapies
• While drugs may be effective, they can also have very severe side effects
• Side effects like headaches and insomnia are common in antidepressants and this can be enough of a reason for the individual to discontinue the treatment
• Soomro et al. (2008) reviewed 17 studies of the use of SSRIs (antidepressants) in the treatment of OCD and found that they were more effective than placebos in reducing symptoms of OCD up to three months after treatment
• Cole et al. (1964) found that 48% of those given a placebo got worse, compared to 29% of those given an antipsychotic who got worse
• Pizzorno (2016) highlighted that the most commonly prescribed drugs only treat symptoms and not the root cause
• Soomro et al. (2008) showed that side effects can be a good enough reason to stop taking drug therapy
• Strengths: Drug Therapy

  • One of the quickest and easiest methods
  • Can be taken from the comfort of someone's home
  • Research evidence supports effectiveness compared to counselling therapies like CBT
• Weaknesses: Drug Therapy

  • Can cause severe side effects
  • Treats only the symptoms and not the root cause
  • Refuting evidence shows weaknesses
  • Not a long-term solution
  • Only focusing on the 3-4 month duration
• Testing Effectiveness;


  more often than not a randomised control trial will be used where there is a control group taking the real drug and a control group taking a placebo and it is double-blind
• Drug Therapy - Placebos are used as they have no active ingredients but look identical to the actual medication so participants cannot tell which one they are receiving.