biological approach: treating OCD Flashcards
What is drug therapy?
Treatment involving drugs, i.e. chemicals that have a particular effect on the functioning of the brain or some other body system.
How do drugs typically affect psychological disorders?
They usually affect neurotransmitter levels.
What is the primary aim of drug therapy for mental disorders?
To increase or decrease levels of neurotransmitters in the brain or to increase/decrease their activity.
Which neurotransmitter is associated with OCD?
Serotonin.
What is the standard medical treatment for OCD?
Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs).
How do SSRIs function in the brain?
They prevent the reabsorption and breakdown of serotonin, increasing its levels in the synapse.
What is a typical daily dose of fluoxetine for treating OCD?
20 mg.
How long does it typically take for SSRIs to impact symptoms?
Three to four months of daily use.
What therapy is often combined with drug treatment for OCD?
Cognitive behaviour therapy (CBT).
What are the benefits of combining SSRIs with CBT?
SSRIs reduce emotional symptoms, allowing better engagement with CBT.
What happens if an SSRI is not effective after three to four months?
The dose can be increased or it can be combined with other drugs.
What are tricyclics and how do they relate to SSRIs?
An older type of antidepressant, such as clomipramine, that acts on the serotonin system with similar effects as SSRIs.
What are SNRIs?
Serotonin-noradrenaline reuptake inhibitors, a different class of antidepressants used for OCD.
True or False: Clomipramine has fewer side effects than SSRIs.
False.
Fill in the blank: SSRIs are primarily used to treat _______.
OCD.
What neurotransmitters do SNRIs increase levels of?
Serotonin and noradrenaline.
What is the main function of serotonin in the treatment of OCD?
To chemically convey signals between neurons.
What is the brand name of fluoxetine?
Prozac.
What is the role of the presynaptic neuron in neurotransmitter activity?
It releases neurotransmitters and reabsorbs/breaks them down after they convey signals/are used.
Why might some people respond better to CBT alone rather than with SSRIs?
Individual responses to treatment vary.
What is a strength of drug treatment for OCD?
Good evidence for its effectiveness
SRIs reduce symptom severity and improve quality of life for people with OCD
What did the review by G. Mustafa Soomro et al. (2009) find regarding SSRIs?
All 17 studies showed significantly better outcomes for SRIs than for placebo conditions
Typically, symptoms reduce for around 70% of people taking SSRIs
What percentage of people taking SSRIs for OCD do not experience significant symptom reduction?
30%
Most can be helped by alternative drugs or combinations of drugs and psychological therapies
who did a systematic review regarding treatments for OCD?
a limitation
Skapinakis et al. (2016)
Cognitive and behavioral therapies were more effective than SSRIs
This suggests that drugs may not be the optimum treatment for OCD
What is a cost-effective advantage of drug treatments for OCD?
They are cheaper compared to psychological treatments
Thousands of tablets can be manufactured in the time it takes for one therapy session
Why are SSRIs considered non-disruptive to people’s lives?
They can be taken until symptoms decline without attending therapy sessions
This contrasts with the time commitment required for psychological therapy
What is a limitation of drug treatments for OCD?
Drugs can have potentially serious side-effects
A small minority may experience no benefit or distressing side-effects
What are some common side-effects of SSRIs?
Indigestion, blurred vision, loss of sex drive
Side-effects are usually temporary but can be distressing
What are some serious side-effects associated with the tricyclic clomipramine?
Erection problems, weight gain, aggression, heart-related problems
More than 1 in 10 people experience erection problems and weight gain
Fill in the blank: Drugs may cause a reduced quality of life for some people, leading them to _______.
stop taking them altogether
True or False: Drug treatments for OCD are universally effective for all patients.
False
A small minority will get no benefit from the drugs
