Treatment

• What is the file-in-the-drawer phenomenon?

  Bias in findings due to monopoly pharmaceutical companies producing drug therapies, such as the recent SNRIs
• Why is the file-in-the-drawer phenomenon limiting?

  Misleading and creates skewed published findings in order to benefit monopoly companies producing drug therapies; public only sees effectiveness of published research
• How do biological treatments to OCD meet the golden standard of drug testing?

  Double-blind trials
• Why is it significant that biological treatments to OCD meet the golden standard?

  Rise to higher quality research, thus more credible evidence for success rates of biological treatments
• How is the patient is a passive recipient in drug therapies?

  Drug therapies to OCD do not target root causes of the disorder, rather the symptoms
• Why is it limiting that the patient is a passive recipient?

  Inactive role in therapy may lead to resurfacing of symptoms once therapy stops; formation of dependency on medication causing detriments to physical health (metabolism) or even addiction
• Why is it beneficial that drug therapies are cheaper in comparison to other therapies?

  Cost-effective nature in the short-term; engagement with treatment leads to reduction in symptoms
• What is an example of other therapies costing more to treat OCD?

  SSRIs and CBT both attribute to a higher upfront cost, the extra cost for CBT is much greater
• Discuss biological treatments of OCD (16 marker)


  AO1: SSRIs

  AO1: Alternative drug therapies

  AO3 (-): File-in-the-drawer phenomenon

  AO3 (+): Golden standard

  AO3 (-): Passive recipients

  AO3 (+): Cheaper treatments