AO3 Treating OCD

• Effectiveness

  • Soomro et al found studies using placebo vs drug, drug is effective, SSRIs high reliability/effectiveness as treatment
  • COUNTER - effectiveness is only short-term, Maina et al found drugs aren't lasting cure and commonly result in relapse
  • Koran et al recommended psychologists treatments like CBT should be tried first
  • undermines biological treatments validity
• Preference

  • preference for drugs as they are cheaper, quick and can be made in large quantities (health services perspective)
  • sufferers also benefit from talking to GP about symptoms/treatment making treatment clear
  • little effort needed (unlike CBT, REBT), fitting for OCD patients, requires little monitoring less motivation
  • COUNTER - still evidence, Koran et al, that CBT should be tried first due to being highly recommended - undermines drugs validity
• Side-effects

  • limitation - anti-anxiety drugs (e.g. BZ's) can cause side effects like aggression and long-term impairment of memory, can become addictive
  • Soomro et al found SSRIs cause headaches, nausea and insomnia - causing more than resolving (drug purpose reversed)
  • diminishes effectiveness, patients often stop taking medication if they experience negative side-effects
  • limits reliability