S4 - Evaluation of therapies

• Effectiveness of drug therapy

  • Soonoro et al (2008) - reviewed 17 studies of SSRI with OCD patients found them more effective than placebos
  • Kahn et al (1986) 250 over 8 weeks, Bz superior to placebos
  • Little long term research
• Symptoms or cause

  • Symptoms
  • Short-term
  • Revolving door theory - patient has to return to get more as disorder is not cured
  • Eg: Depression and anxiety
• Ethics - Use of placebos

  • No patient should be given treatment known to be inferior
• Ethics - Serious side effects

  • SSRIs - headaches, insomnia
  • Tricyclic anti-depressants - hallucinations
  • Donald Schnell - murder suicide (on prozac)
• Cost/Comparison

  • Despite limitations
  • Relatively cheap in comparison to other therapies
• Ethics - Valid consent

  • patients may not be mentally competent to consent to drug treatment
  • May not remember side effects, not right frame of mind
• Ethic

  • Medical professionals may withdraw information from the patient as drugs are deemed a quick fix