treating OCD - biological approach Flashcards
What is the most commonly used treatment for OCD?
Drug therapy
How are SSRI’s (anti-depressants) used to treat OCD?
- low levels of serotonin are associated with OCD + depression , so SSRI’s (selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors) increase serotonin
- serotonin is released from the pre-synaptic neuron into the synapse + targets the receptors on the post post-synaptic neuron, afterwards it’s reabsorbed by the pre-synaptic neuron. SSRIs block the reuptake (reabsorption) of serotonin to increase the stimulation of SSRIs on the postsynaptic neuron.
How are tricyclics (anti-depressants) used to treat OCD?
- tricyclics block the reputake of serotonin and noradrenaline
(+) targets noradrenaline as well as serotonin unlike SSRI’s
(-) has more severe side effects than SSRI’s
How are anti-anxiety drugs used to treat OCD?
- BZ’s are used to reduce anxiety by enhancing GABA to slow down the nervous system
- D-Cycloserine also reduces anxiety
Evaluation of drug therapy’s used to treat OCD
(+) Soomro et al - studies using drugs vs plavebo’s demonstrated that drugs were more effective in reducing OCD symptoms than placebo’s (-) Koran et al - drug trials are not long enough to show long-term effects of drugs
(+) drugs require little time and effort from the sufferer unlike CBT, for example, which requires regular attendance (-) doesn’t cure
(-) side effects of the drugs. ssri’s= nausea, headaches, insomnia. tricyclics= hallucinations, irregular heartbeat
