The biological approach to treating OCD Flashcards
What is serotonin?
A neurotransmitter implicated in many behaviours and physiological processes, including eating, sleeping and depression.
What are drug therapies?
Treatment involving drugs to decrease/increase levels of neurotransmitters in the brain or their activity
What are SSRIs?
Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors - antidepressants.
What are antidepressants used for in people with OCD?
They are used to reduce the anxiety associated with OCD.
Name two SSRIs.
Prozac and Paxil.
How do SSRIs work?
SSRIs work by blocking the reuptake (reabsorption) of serotonin at the pre-synaptic neuron after it has fired.
By preventing the reabsorption it has the effect of increasing levels of serotonin at the synapse, prolonging its activity and increasing stimulation to the receiving neuron.
This increase in levels of the neurotransmitter has the effect of regulating mood and anxiety. (Back to normal)
What is the typical dosage of antidepressants?
A typical daily dosage of Prozac is 20mg, but this may increased if it is not benefitting the patient.
How long does it take for the daily use of SSRIs to impact upon symptoms?
3-4 months
What type of therapy are drugs often used alongside to treat OCD?
Drugs are often used alongside cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) to treat OCD. The drugs reduce the patient’s emotional symptoms, such as feeling anxious or depressed. This means that patients can engage more effectively with CBT.
List the alternatives antidepressants to SSRIs.
Tricyclics.
SNRIs.
What is tricyclics?
(older type of antidepressants) such as Clomipramine – similar effect on serotonin system as SSRIs, but has more severe side-effects used when the the person doesn’t respond to SSRIs.
What is SNRIs?
(serotonin-noradrenaline reuptake inhibitors) – last 5 years has seen the development of a different class of antidepressants. SNRIs increase levels of serotonin as well as another different neurotransmitter – noradrenaline.
What are the strengths of drug treatments?
Evidence of effectiveness.
Cost-effective and non-disruptive.
Give evidence that SSRI reduce symptom severity of OCD.
Soomro et al (2009) reviewed studies comparing SSRis to placebos in the treatment of OCS and concluded that all 17 studies reviewed showed significantly better results for the SSRIs than for placebo conditions.
Typically symptoms decline significantly from around 70%.
30% alternative drug treatments or combinations of drugs and psychological treatments will be effective for some.
What is a counterpoint for evidence of effectiveness?
Even if drug treatments are helpful for most people with OCD they may not be the most effective treatment available. Skapinakis et al. (2016) carried out a systematic review of outcome of studies and concluded that both cognitive and behavioural therapies were more effective than SSRIs in the treatment of OCD.
