A03

• * scientific for bio exp?

  • can use empirical & scientific methods to study biology of patients with ods
  • eg brain scans (pet scans) & twin studies where effects of differences in brain structure & genetics can be identified
  • internal
  • can be researched in an empirical manner
  • adds to accuracy of explantation
  • means we can establish cause & effect relationship between development of ocd & our biology
• * evidence to support neural exp?

  • national institute for mental health examined dna samples of people with ocd
  • found that there were low levels of serotonin due to mutations in sert gene
  • valid evidence to support idea that mutations in sert gene which is responsible for transport of serotonin & cause ocd as a result
  • adds to accuracy of explanation
• X not everyone with ocd responds to drugs for neural exp?

  • neural explanation suggests that low levels of serotonin causes ocd but when patient with ocd take drugs which higher their level of serotonin they do not work for everyone
  • ? valid
  • evidence from patients suggests that low levels of serotonin is not always cause of ocd or therapy would work for everyone
  • so accuracy of explanation is lowered
• X issues with determining cause & effect for neural exp?

  • it is not clear whether ocd is caused by a physical difference or if it occurs as a result of getting disorder
  • ? valid
  • may be that ocd causes these differences such as high levels of activity in OFC due to obsessions it creates rather than differences causing ocd themselves
• X not 100% concordance for genetic exp?

  • suggests that ocd cannot be completely caused by genetics because if it was there would be 100% concordance rates between mz twins who share 100% genetics
  • ? valid
  • suggests that there be other factors such as environmental factors that cause ocd
  • means this explanation is too simplistic
• * evidence to support genetic from billet 1998?

  • found that mz twins were more than twice as likely to develop ocd than dz twins
  • valid
  • supports idea that genetics play a role in ocd as those who are more genetically similar are more likely to share conditions than those less genetically similar
• X not long lasting treatment?

  • therapy does not guarantee a patient wont relapse as it is easy for patients using drug therapy to do so
  • patient can simply stop taking drug at any time meaning ocd resurfaces due to lower levels of serotonin
  • ? effective & appropriate
  • cannot be used as a suitable treatment for ocd over time & an alternative cognitive treatment might be more suitable
• explain X does not treat cause?

  • drugs are used only to increase levels of serotonin
  • means without drugs cognitive symptoms such as obsessions would still be there which lead to anxiety & compulsions
  • ? effective
  • doesnt treat ocd fully only minimises symptoms
  • means when patient stops taking drug disorder will return increasing relapse rates
  • suggesting other treatments may be more appropriate
• X side effects?

  • drugs have unpleasant side effects such as nausea & insomnia which will affect daily routines of patients
  • ? appropriate
  • there may be other treatments which treat ocd without causing these side effects so are more likely to be used by patients
• * evidence that drug therapy is effective?

  • soomro (2009) reviewed studies who compared patients treated with ssri & a placebo for ocd
  • found that in all studies ssri was more effective
  • effective
  • evidence to support its success in treating patients compared to other methods
  • suggests there must be bio components to disorder as placebo effect had limited success rates compared to ssri which increase nt
• * quick & easy?

  • patients can take drugs easily by swallowing a pill which is not as strenuous as other treatments such as cbt which requires patients to change thoughts
  • appropriate
  • easily accessible to anyone due to not being cog/phy demanding & is less time consuming
  • will increase likelihood of people engaging with this therapy - results in higher success rates