biological approach: treating OCD

Question 1

What is drug therapy?

Answer 1

Treatment involving drugs, i.e. chemicals that have a particular effect on the functioning of the brain or some other body system.

Question 2

How do drugs typically affect psychological disorders?

Answer 2

They usually affect neurotransmitter levels.

Question 3

What is the primary aim of drug therapy for mental disorders?

Answer 3

To increase or decrease levels of neurotransmitters in the brain or to increase/decrease their activity.

Question 4

Which neurotransmitter is associated with OCD?

Answer 4

Serotonin.

Question 5

What is the standard medical treatment for OCD?

Answer 5

Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs).

Question 6

How do SSRIs function in the brain?

Answer 6

They prevent the reabsorption and breakdown of serotonin, increasing its levels in the synapse.

Question 7

What is a typical daily dose of fluoxetine for treating OCD?

Answer 7

20 mg.

Question 8

How long does it typically take for SSRIs to impact symptoms?

Answer 8

Three to four months of daily use.

Question 9

What therapy is often combined with drug treatment for OCD?

Answer 9

Cognitive behaviour therapy (CBT).

Question 10

What are the benefits of combining SSRIs with CBT?

Answer 10

SSRIs reduce emotional symptoms, allowing better engagement with CBT.

Question 11

What happens if an SSRI is not effective after three to four months?

Answer 11

The dose can be increased or it can be combined with other drugs.

Question 12

What are tricyclics and how do they relate to SSRIs?

Answer 12

An older type of antidepressant, such as clomipramine, that acts on the serotonin system with similar effects as SSRIs.

Question 13

What are SNRIs?

Answer 13

Serotonin-noradrenaline reuptake inhibitors, a different class of antidepressants used for OCD.

Question 14

True or False: Clomipramine has fewer side effects than SSRIs.

Answer 14

False.

Question 15

Fill in the blank: SSRIs are primarily used to treat _______.

Answer 15

OCD.

Question 16

What neurotransmitters do SNRIs increase levels of?

Answer 16

Serotonin and noradrenaline.

Question 17

What is the main function of serotonin in the treatment of OCD?

Answer 17

To chemically convey signals between neurons.

Question 18

What is the brand name of fluoxetine?

Answer 18

Prozac.

Question 19

What is the role of the presynaptic neuron in neurotransmitter activity?

Answer 19

It releases neurotransmitters and reabsorbs/breaks them down after they convey signals/are used.

Question 20

Why might some people respond better to CBT alone rather than with SSRIs?

Answer 20

Individual responses to treatment vary.

Question 21

What is a strength of drug treatment for OCD?

Answer 21

Good evidence for its effectiveness

SRIs reduce symptom severity and improve quality of life for people with OCD

Question 22

What did the review by G. Mustafa Soomro et al. (2009) find regarding SSRIs?

Answer 22

All 17 studies showed significantly better outcomes for SRIs than for placebo conditions

Typically, symptoms reduce for around 70% of people taking SSRIs

Question 23

What percentage of people taking SSRIs for OCD do not experience significant symptom reduction?

Answer 23

30%

Most can be helped by alternative drugs or combinations of drugs and psychological therapies

Question 24

who did a systematic review regarding treatments for OCD?

a limitation

Answer 24

Skapinakis et al. (2016)
Cognitive and behavioral therapies were more effective than SSRIs

This suggests that drugs may not be the optimum treatment for OCD

Question 25

What is a cost-effective advantage of drug treatments for OCD?

Answer 25

They are cheaper compared to psychological treatments ## Footnote Thousands of tablets can be manufactured in the time it takes for one therapy session

Question 26

Why are SSRIs considered non-disruptive to people's lives?

Answer 26

They can be taken until symptoms decline without attending therapy sessions ## Footnote This contrasts with the time commitment required for psychological therapy

Question 27

What is a limitation of drug treatments for OCD?

Answer 27

Drugs can have potentially serious side-effects ## Footnote A small minority may experience no benefit or distressing side-effects

Question 28

What are some common side-effects of SSRIs?

Answer 28

Indigestion, blurred vision, loss of sex drive ## Footnote Side-effects are usually temporary but can be distressing

Question 29

What are some serious side-effects associated with the tricyclic clomipramine?

Answer 29

Erection problems, weight gain, aggression, heart-related problems ## Footnote More than 1 in 10 people experience erection problems and weight gain

Question 30

Fill in the blank: Drugs may cause a reduced quality of life for some people, leading them to _______.

Answer 30

stop taking them altogether

Question 31

True or False: Drug treatments for OCD are universally effective for all patients.

Answer 31

False ## Footnote A small minority will get no benefit from the drugs