OCD Drug Therapy

Question 1

Drug therapy

Answer 1

• Drug therapy assumes that there is a chemical imbalance in the brain
• This can be corrected by drugs, which either increase or decrease the levels of neurotransmitters at the synapse

Question 2

SSRIs

Answer 2

• Serotonin is released by the presynaptic neuron and travels across the synapse
• If it does not bind to receptors, it is reabsorbed by the presynaptic neuron
• In order to increase levels of serotonin at the synapse and increase stimulation to the recipient neuron, this re-absorption is inhibited as SSRIs prevent reuptake of serotonin and prolong it’s activity in the synapse in order to reduce anxiety/normalise the ‘worry circuit’