ocd- treating Flashcards
What are SSRIs?
-Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitor
-Anti-Depressants
What do SSRI’s do?
-blocking the transporter mechanism that re-absorbs serotonin into the pre-synaptic cell.
-This means that more serotonin is left in the synapse, which prolongs its activity, making transmission to the post synaptic cell or the next impulse easier.
What is the effect of an SSRI on serotonin?
Increased levels in the body
What are SNRIs?
-Selective Serotonin Noradrenaline Reuptake Inhibitor
-Anti-Depressants
What if SSRIs dont work to treat OCD?
-SNRIs or anti-anxiety drugs may be tried as well as combined with other treatments like therapy
What drugs apart from anti-depressants may be used to treat OCD?
-anti-anxiety drugs/ benzodiazepines
How do benzodiazepines (anti-anxiety drugs) work to treat OCD?
-slow down the activity of the central nervous system.
-Do this enhancing the activity of GABA (gamma-aminobutyric acid)
-This has a generalized quietening effect on the neurons in the brain. Basically, shutting down the ‘worry circuit’
What are the strengths of the biological treatments for OCD?
-research support using randomized drug trials
-cost effective
What are the limitations of biological treatments for OCD?
-possible side-effects
-possible ethical issues
Explain the strength of biological treatments for OCD that there is research support with randomized drug trials?
-These Trials compare the effectiveness of SSRIs and placebos (a ‘drug’ with no pharmacological value).
-Soomro et al (2009) conducted a review of the research examining the effectiveness of SSRIs and found that SSRIs were more effective than placebos in the treatments of OCD (for 70% of patients), in 17 different trials.
-This supports use of biological treatments, especially SSRIs, for OCD.
Explain the limitation of the biological treatments for OCD that there are possible side-effects?
-Although drugs like SSRIs can help most, a small minority get no benefit.
-Some also get side effects such as indigestion, blurred vision and loss of sex drive, which are usually temporary side-effects but can still be distressing to the patient and for few, long lasting.
-For those taking clomipramine, side effects are more common and can be more serious.
-For example, more than 1 in 10 experience erection problems
and weight gain, and 1 in 100 become aggressive and experience heart
related problems.
-This means that some have a reduced quality of life as a result, and may stop taking the drugs altogether.
Explain the strength of biological treatments for OCD that they are cost-effective?
-Another strength of biological treatments is their cost.
-Biological treatments, including anti-depressants and ant-anxiety drugs, are
relatively cost effective in comparison to psychological treatments, like
cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT).
-Consequently, many doctors prefer
the use of drugs over psychological treatments, as they are a cost-
effective solution for treating OCD, which is beneficial for health service providers.
Explain the strength of biological treatments for OCD that there may be ethical issues?
-Drug therapy can raise the ethical issue of informed consent.
-If someone’s symptoms heavily revolved around having disordered/
disrupted thinking, then there is the question of if the patient can give
fully informed consent to taking the drug that may cause many, potentially serious, side effects.
