The biological approach to treating OCD Flashcards
What is the common biological treatment of OCD?
Drug therapy
What is the most commonly prescribed drug for OCD?
Antidepressants
What is the premise of using antidepressants to treat OCD?
They increase serotonin levels
What does SSRI stand for?
Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors
What do SSRIs do?
Increase serotonin levels
How do SSRIs work?
They block the serotonin reuptake sites on the pre-synaptic membrane, which forces serotonin to bind to the post-synaptic membrane
What is tricyclic clomipramine?
An antidepressant used to treat OCD
How do tricyclics work?
They block the transporter mechanism that reabsorbs serotonin and noradrenaline
Why are tricyclics advantageous?
They target more than one neurotransmitter
Why are tricyclics disadvantageous?
They have greater side effects
What are benzodiazepines?
Anti-anxiety drugs
What do benzodiazepines do?
Slow down the activity of the CNS
How do benzodiazepines slow down the activity of the CNS?
They enhance the activity of a neurotransmitter called GABA
What effect does GABA have?
It has a general quietening effect on neurons in the brain
How does GABA work?
It binds to GABA receptors, which causes an influx of chloride ions
What effect do chloride ions have on neurons?
They make it harder for the neuron to be stimulated
What is D-Cycloserine>
An antibiotic used to treat tuberculosis, which enhances GABA transmission
What are the 4 AO3 points of the biological approach to treating OCD?
1) Side effects
2) Effectiveness
3) Realistic treatment
4) Publication bias
What are common side effects of SSRIs? (3)
Nausea, headaches and insomnia
Why do side effects limit the effectiveness of drug therapy?
They can drive people to stop taking their drugs
What are the side effects of tricyclics?
Hallucinations and arrhythmias
What type of behaviour can benzodiazepines cause?
Aggressive behaviour
Why are benzodiazepines problematic?
They are addictive
How many studies were included in the meta-analysis that investigated the effectiveness of SSRIs on treating OCD?
17