biological approach to treating OCD

Question 1

key assumption

Answer 1

the suggestion that OCD is caused by Low levels of the neurotransmitter serotonin means that it can be treated by prescribing drugs, such as antidepressants which will improve mood and reduce anxiety.

Question 2

Anti depressants

Answer 2

drugs that increase the activity of serotonin can help reduce symptoms

Question 3

what are the two types of anti depressant drugs

Answer 3

tricyclics and SSRIs (selective serotonin re-uptake inhibitors)

Question 4

what are tricyclics?

Answer 4

anti depressants that work on increasing levels of serotonin and noradrenaline

Question 5

what are SSRIs?

Answer 5

work on specifically targeting and increasing serotonin rather than other transmitters.

Question 6

how do anti-depressants work?

Answer 6

-electrical impulses trigger the release of serotonin from the pre-synaptic neuron
-when serotonin crosses the synapse, it binds to receptor sites on the post-synaptic Huron
-any serotonin that is not absorbed by the post synaptic neutron is reabsorbed by the pre-synaptic neutron in a process called re-uptake, where they are Brocken down and re-used
tricyclics and SSRIs work by binding to receport sites on the pre-synaptic neutron, preventing the re-uptake of serotonin
-this increases the levels and activity of presynaptic by prolonging its time in the synapse allowing it more opportunity to bind to receptors on the post-synapric neutron