Biological treatments for OCD

Question 1

Biological treatments for OCD include

Answer 1

The biological approach uses drug therapy to correct the imbalance of neurochemicals (e.g. serotonin) in order to reduce symptoms.

SSRI’s
Benzodiazepines

Question 2

SSRI’s

Answer 2

One method of treating Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD) is antidepressant drugs called Selective Serotonin Re-Uptake Inhibitors (SSRIs). These include Prozac, Fluoxetine etc

SSRIs prevent the reabsorption and breakdown of serotonin and so increase the level of serotonin in the synapse, where it continues to stimulate the postsynaptic neuron. The effect of this should be to reduce anxiety.

It typically takes 3-4 months of daily use for SSRIs to impact upon symptoms. The typical daily dosage of SSRI may be increased if it is not benefitting the patient as appropriate.

Question 3

Serotonin context

Answer 3

Serotonin is released by presynaptic neurons (brain cells) and travels across the synaptic cleft (gap between neurons). It chemically conveys the signal from the presynaptic neuron to the postsynaptic neuron and is then reabsorbed (re-uptake) by the presynaptic neuron, where it is broken down and reused

Question 4

Advantages if SSRI’s

Answer 4

+ Soomro (2009) reviewed 17 studies that compared SSRIs to placebo drugs for treating OCD and found that all 17 studies showed that SSRI drugs were more effective than placebos, especially when SSRIs were combined with Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT).

+ 70% of patients have experienced a decline in OCD symptoms when taking SSRIs. The remaining 30% of patients tend to opt for psychological therapies or a combination of SSRIs and psychological therapies

Question 5

Disadvantages of SSRI’s

Answer 5

• A problem with SSRIs is that they have severe side effects which might mean that the OCD patient might stop taking the medication. Side effects are temporary but include indigestion, blurred vision and loss of sex drive.

Question 6

Benzodiazepines

Answer 6

Anti-anxiety drugs, such as Benzodiazepines (BZ), are commonly used to treat OCD. BZs (e.g. Valium and Diazepam) slow down the activity of the central nervous system by enhancing the activity of the neurotransmitter GABA. This neurotransmitter has an inhibitory effect on neurons.

GABA does this by reacting with special sites called GABA receptors on the outside of neurons. When GABA locks into these receptors it opens a channel that increases the flow of chloride ions into the neuron. Chloride ions make it harder for the neuron to be stimulated by other neurotransmitters, thus slowing down neural activity and making a person feel more relaxed.

Question 7

Advantages of Benzodiazepines

Answer 7

+ BZ drugs can begin to reduce anxiety levels and OCD symptoms in a short period of time, especially compared to other treatments like CBT, so that the patient experiences immediate relief.

Question 8

Disadvantages of Benzodiazepines

Answer 8

• If BZ drugs are used long-term then several unwanted side effects can begin to appear, examples include drowsiness, depression and unpredictable interactions with alcohol. Ashton (1997) found that longterm users of BZ became very dependent on the drug and a sudden withdrawal of the drug leads to a return of high levels of anxiety and OCD symptoms. There is also the problem of tolerance whereby patients need to take larger and larger doses of the drug in order to reduce their OCD symptoms because their body gets used to the drug.