Biological Explanations and Treatments for

OCD

Biological Explanations and Treatments for

OCDBATs

Outline (D/E) and evaluate (C+)the Biological Approach to OCD

Outline biological therapies for OCD (D)Evaluate the appropriateness and

effectiveness of Biological therapies for OCD(B+)

BATsOutline (D/E) and evaluate (C+)the

Biological Approach to OCDOutline biological therapies for OCD (D)

Evaluate the appropriateness and effectiveness of Biological therapies for

OCD(B+)

What causes OCD?

• Researchers are split over the cause of OCD

• One one hand it is thought to be a Psychological disorder

• On the other hand some think it may be the result of abnormalities in the brain

What causes OCD?

• At AS ,in the stress and Abnormality topics, you learned that anxiety and fear are natural and adaptive responses (i.e the behaviour had an advantage for survival)

• This suggests anxiety and fear have a Biological basis

• We might then expect that abnormal fears and anxieties are biologically based

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ToSNC8levLg&feature=related

Biological Explanations for

OCD• In pairs research and make notes or do a

presentation about either genetic factors or the Evolutionary approach to OCD

• You will then teach the other group

• Finish off by doing a summary sheet

p206-207 and OCD workbook

Plenary

•Complete the ‘Target and Challenge’ worksheet

Biological Therapies

• The main biological therapies for OCD are chemotherapy (drugs) and psychosurgery

• They are usually used in conjunction with Psychological therapies because they reduce anxiety levels to enable the patient to engage in Psychotherapy

• The American Psychiatric Association in 2007 recommended that drugs should only be used in severe cases or in conjunction with psychotherapy

Biological Therpaies

• Psychosurgery is a controversial therapy for OCD - see the case study of Mary Lou Zimmerman on p 211

• A fairly recent treatment is less invasive - Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation

• In pairs find out about either Chemotherapy or Psychosurgery

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XJtNPqCj-iA tmshttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hMJJ3DpzXdk&feature=related

TMS

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a1xdB1jNBu8&feature=related deep brain and parkinsons

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=izKL1mVXF7c&feature=related deep brain anim

Evaluating Biological therapies

• For each therapy evaluate its..

• appropriateness

• effectiveness

• What synoptic points are related to this type of therapy?

Plenary

• Create a leaflet to inform OCD patients of possible Biological therapies.

• or do the Biological Breakdown worksheet to help you write an essay about Biological explanations for OCD - see p 207 for a question.