evaluation of drug therapy

• strength is its effectiveness is supported by evidence from research
• to test effectiveness of drugs, use a placebo. which is a substance with no pharmacological value but controls believe it’s real.
• example, somoro et al. 17 studies with the use of SSRIs with OCD patients. found more effective than placebos in reducing symptoms up to 3 months after treatment
• strength as it demonstrates its effective in reducing symptoms
• strength is cheap and efficient compared to other treatments
• practitioners will invest less time in patient
• example, drug therapy is free in Wales and cheap in rest of UK
• strength as it means therapy is efficient and easy to administer than other therapies
• limitation is associated ethical issues
• lack of valid consent as patients may not be in right frame of mind to digest information, like side effects
• example, side effects links to risk and harm as could be distressing for patient. may make the patient want to stop taking them
• somoro 17 studies on SSRIs in OCD, only examined short term effects unclear if has long term benefits
• weakness they don’t address underlying cause
• example, if a person suffers from depression in adulthood due to serious childhood trauma, antidepressants may provide effective short term solution BUT in the long term it’s not dealt with.
• when the patient stops taking the medication illness will return
• will lead to what is known as the ‘revolving door syndrome’ where a patient is back and forth their doctor as their disorder is never really cured