Lesson 13: Biological Treatments for OCD

Question 1

Why does the biological approach use medication, and how does it affect neurotransmitters?

Answer 1

The biological approach uses medication to increase or decrease levels of neurotransmitters, or the activity of neurotransmitters, in the brain. The general purpose is to decrease anxiety, lower arousal, and lower blood pressure and decrease heart rate.

Question 2

What are SSRIs?

Answer 2

Selective Serotonin Re-Uptake Inhibitors - 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. 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.

Question 3

Evaluation of SSRIs?

Answer 3

+ 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.

• 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.