Biological treatments for OCD

Question 1

What are the forms of treatments

Answer 1

Drugs

Question 2

What do SSRI’s do

Answer 2

Used a first option
Blocks serotonin reabsorption increasing the amount available in the synapse
Increases serotonin in the brain
Compensates for low levels in OCD patients
20mg a day

Question 3

What do SNRI’s do

Answer 3

Blocks repuptake of serotonin and noradrenaline
Increases both chemicals in the brain

Question 4

What do anxiolytics do

Answer 4

Increase activity of the neurotransmitter GABA
GABA has a calming effect
Reduces the anxiety

Question 5

What is transcranial magnetic stimulation

Answer 5

Uses pulses of magnetic energy to stimulate or damped down activity in the brain associated with OCD

Question 6

Positives

Answer 6

Can control symptoms
-Soomro et al reviewed the effectiveness of SSRI’s and found they were more effective than placebos in 17 trials

Question 7

Limitations

Answer 7

Not a cure
Effectiveness is exaggerated by publication bias

Question 8

Not a cure

Answer 8

Help reduce the symptoms but don’t solve the problem
Pallative treatment
Should be used with other therapies. Interactionist appraoch

Question 9

Exaggerated effectiveness

Answer 9

Good results are more likely to be published than bad ones
Of 41 positive trials registered with the FDA- 40 were published
With 16 negative- 9 were published

Question 10

Example of an SSRI

Answer 10

Fluoxetine

Question 11

Side effects

Answer 11

Indigestion, hallucinations and high blood pressure, Can be associated with withdrawal symptoms and implications in sexual drives.