AQA A Level Psychology

Revision Notes

A LevelPsychologyAQARevision Notes4. Psychopathology4.4 OCD4.4.3 Biological Treatments of OCD

4.4.3 Biological Treatments of OCD

Test Yourself

Biological Treatments of OCD

  • As the biological approach explains OCD through the biological makeup of the individual, it also explains the treatments of OCD through biological treatments
  • The main biological treatment is the use of drug treatments, which affect the functioning of the brain and neurotransmitter levels

Drug therapy 

SSRIs (Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors)

  • The work solely on the neurotransmitter serotonin which is associated with OCD 
  • They inhibit the re-uptake/ absorption of serotonin, which happens too fast in people with OCD 
  • By preventing the reabsorption of and breakdown of serotonin, SSRIs effectively increase levels of serotonin in the synapse, which results in the neurotransmitter remaining active in influencing the post-synaptic neuron 
  • The average time for SSRIs to take effect is 4 months, before they impact on symptoms

Alternative drugs

  • SNRI's (Serotonin-Noradrenaline Reuptake Inhibitors), these work in a similar way to SSRIs, but as well as increasing levels of serotonin, they also increase another neurotransmitter called noradrenaline
  • Tricyclics, is reserved for those that SSRIs do not work for: It is an older antidepressant and has more severe side effects than SSRIs, so is usually only used on those that other drug therapies have not worked

Biological Treatments of OCD: Evaluation

Strengths  Limitations 

Evidence of Effectiveness, although drug therapy doesn't 'cure' OCD, it allows for a significant improvement i.n the suffering life, reducing OCD behaviours.

Drug therapy is cost-effective as they are cheaper than other psychological treatments, which is preferred for health services that have a budget they must adhere to. 

Drug therapy is non-disruptive to people's lives as they do not have to give up time to attend therapy.

Greist et al. (1995) conducted a meta-analysis where they reviewed placebo-controlled trials of the effects of 4 drugs on OCD, they found all 4 drugs were significantly more effective than the placebo.

NICE (The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence) who recommends treatments for illnesses in the UK, and states that a mix of therapy and drugs works best.

The therapist can help with the side effects of the drug and ensure the patient still takes them whilst the drugs can often work faster than the therapy so the sufferer feels some progress.

Side-effects: Drug therapies can have potentially serious side effects: With SSRIs, these side effects can include; blurred vision, loss of sexual appetite, irritability, indigestion, and sleep pattern disruption.

High relapse rates once patients stop taking the drug.

Simpson (2004) found that 45% of cases in 12 weeks relapsed, compared to only 12% of patients who had CBT. This suggests, that drug therapy does not treat OCD.

Publication bias has been shown that positive results are more likely to be published than not, According to Goldacre (2013), as drug companies sponsor the drug trials, they selectively publish positive outcomes for the drugs their sponsors are selling.

Exam Tip

Remember, drug therapy looks to cure the symptoms /behaviours but does not look at determining the causes.

Think about the interaction of drugs and therapies as an AO3 point.

You've read 0 of your 0 free revision notes

Get unlimited access

to absolutely everything:

  • Downloadable PDFs
  • Unlimited Revision Notes
  • Topic Questions
  • Past Papers
  • Model Answers
  • Videos (Maths and Science)

Join the 100,000+ Students that ❤️ Save My Exams

the (exam) results speak for themselves:

    Test yourselfNext topic

    Did this page help you?

    Jenna

    Author: Jenna

    Jenna studied at Cardiff University before training to become a science teacher at the University of Bath specialising in Biology (although she loves teaching all three sciences at GCSE level!). Teaching is her passion, and with 10 years experience teaching across a wide range of specifications – from GCSE and A Level Biology in the UK to IGCSE and IB Biology internationally – she knows what is required to pass those Biology exams.