Treating OCD

Question 1

What are SSRIs?

Answer 1

Antidepressants that work on the serotonin system in the brain.
SSRIs prevent the breakdown and reabsorption of the neurotransmitter serotonin and so it effectively increases the levels of serotonin in the synapse as so it carries on binding to the receptors on the postsynaptic neurone and carrying on the cation potential.

Question 2

Alternative drugs to SSRIs

Answer 2

Tricyclics- It is an older antidepressant with more severe side effects.

SNRIs- As well as increasing levels of serotonin they also increase noradrenaline.

Question 3

Strengths of the treatments of OCD.

Answer 3

Drug therapy is cost-effective as they are cheaper then therapists and other treatments.

It is non-disruptive to peoples lives as they do not have to attend therapy.

Greist- Conducted a meta-analysis where they reviewed placebo-controlled trials of the effects of 4 drugs on OCD, they found all 4 drugs were significantly more effective than the placebo.

Question 4

Limitations of the treatments of OCD.

Answer 4

Side effects- Blurred vision, loss of sexual appetite, sleep disruption.

High relapse rates when patients stop taking the drugs.
Simpson found that 45% relapsed after 12 weeks compared to only 12% who had CBT.