the biological approach to treating ocd Flashcards
(6 cards)
what are the aims of drug therapy? (2)
● in ocd, thought that neurotransmitter involved is serotonin - levels of this neurotransmitter are thought to be too low
● drug therapy aims to increase levels of this neurotransmitter - by doing so, a reduction in symptoms of ocd would occur
what does ssri’s stand for? (5)
● selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors
● form of anti-depressant
● work on serotonin levels in the brain
● used to treat both ocd and depression
● examples of ssris:
fluoxetine (prozac)
sertraline (for under 18’s)
how do ssri’s work? (4)
● in those with ocd, serotonin is released into the synapse but the axon (the pre-synaptic neurone) reabsorbs the serotonin too quickly - leading to lower levels of serotonin
● ssri’s work by stopping the reuptake of serotonin by blocking reuptake channels
● this means that more serotonin is found within the synapse, making it more likely to bind with the dendrite of the post synaptic neurone and send on the electrical impulse
● this then reduces the symptoms of ocd
describe the patient information (6)
● dosage differs from person to person because of height, age, weight and severity of symptoms
● usually start on lowest dose - 20mg
● taken daily in tablet form
● if not effective after 3 to 4 months - increased up to 60mg or given a different drug / treatment
● it may take up to 4 weeks of continuous usage before people see a reduction in symptoms
● it can take up to 3-4 months in some cases
outline combining ssri’s with cbt (3)
● drugs are often used alongside cbt to treat ocd
● the drugs reduce a persons emotional symptoms such as feeling anxious and depressed
● this means they can engage more effectively with cbt
what are alternatives to ssri’s? (4)
● tricyclics
● used as a second line of defence for people who do not respond to ssri’s
● they have the same effect on the serotonin system
● but the side effects can be more severe
