drug therapy for OCD

Question 1

What type of drug is an SSRI, and what does it stand for?

Answer 1

SSRIs are an antidepressant, and SSRI stands for selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor

Question 2

What normally happens to the serotonin, once it has sent its signal to the postsynaptic neuron?

Answer 2

The serotonin is reabsorbed by the presynaptic neuron where it is broken down and reused

Question 3

What do SSRIs do and how does this help someone with OCD?

Answer 3

SSRIs prevent reabsorption and breakdown, increasing the levels of serotonin in the synapse thus continuing to stimulate the post synaptic neuron - compensates whatever is wrong with serotonin system in OCD

Question 4

Why are SSRIs often taken in conjunction with CBT?

Answer 4

The drugs reduce a person’s emotional symptoms, such as feeling anxious or depressed - engage more effectively with CBT

Question 5

SSRIs - effectiveness

Answer 5

• strength
• effectiveness in improving the quality of life & reducing symptom severity.
• Soomro reviewed 17 studies that compared SSRIs to placebos for the treatment of OCD.
• found that all 17 studies showed there was a reduction in symptoms for 70% of people and the remaining 30% could be treated with alternative drugs or combination therapy. This displays the effectiveness that drugs such as SSRIs have to help those with OCD.

Question 6

SSRIs - accessible

Answer 6

• drugs typically being cheaper than therapy as many thousands of tablets or liquid doses can be manufactured in one time.
• drugs to be good value of public health systems as it is a good use of limited funds
• SSRIs being non-disruptive to people’s lives.
• patients taking a passive role as all they have to do is the drug rather than attending the therapy sessions.
• helps patients who may not be able to motivate themselves to take on the hard work required for talking therapies to be effective.

Question 7

SSRIs - serious side-effects

Answer 7

side-effects can include indigestion, blurred vision and loss of sex drive. They are usually temporary but can cause distress in those who have the side-effects and may also be long-lasting. For example, those taking the tricyclic, clomipramine, the side effects are more serious such as 1 in 100 becoming aggressive and experiencing heart-related problems. This reduces the quality of life so those taking these drugs which may deter people from taking them causing the drugs to no longer be effective.