Biological treatments for OCD

Question 1

What is drug therapy?

Gava juice 🥤

Answer 1

Regulates levels of neurotransmitters in our brains

Most commonly used treatment for peoplewith OCD (Gava 2007)

Question 2

What are the 2 types of drug therapies?

Answer 2

• Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRI)
• Benzodiazepines (stress/anxiety relief)

Question 3

What are SSRIs?

Answer 3

Antidepressant acting on serotonin system.

Aim to increase serotonin in brain

8 currently prescribed in UK

Main: fluoxetine –> 1 tablet a day

Question 4

How is serotonin transmitted in normal circumstances?

Answer 4

• Serotonin released into synpase from presynaptic neuron.
• Diffusion across synpase until receptor sites reached on post synaptic neuron where signal converted back to electrical impulse.
• Serotonin reabsorbed by pre synaptic neuron –> broken down + reused

Question 5

What occurs to serotonin in people with OCD?

Answer 5

• Less serotonin being released
• Serotonin reabsorbed too quickly

Question 6

What do SSRIs do?

Answer 6

Block reuptake of serotonin –> increasing serotonin levels in synapse

.: Post synaptic neuron more likely to fire

Compensates for lack of serotonin naturally in individuals system –> reduces symptoms

Question 7

Can SSRIs be combined with other treatments?

Answer 7

SSRIs: reduce emotional symptoms (anxiety/depression)

Person more engaged in CBT –> solves cognitive symptoms

Question 8

What are tricyclics?

Answer 8

• Older type
• Prolong action of noradrenaline + serotonin on the brain
  –> target more than 1 NT
• Tend to cause more unpleasant side effects

Question 9

What are SNRIs?

Answer 9

• Newer
• Similar to SSRIs but act on noradrenaline as well
• More selective action then tricyclics
  .: Better at targeting brain chemicals which affects mood without causing unwanted side effects
• Preferred for treating more severe depression + anxiety

Question 10

What are Benzodiazepine?

Answer 10

• Anti-anxiety medication
• Increases effect of GABA
• GABA: inhibitory effect –> tells neurons to stop stressing
• GABA locks to receptor site: flow of Cl- into neurons increases
• Cl- ion = more difficult for receiving neuron to be stimulated by further neurotransmitters
  .: nervous system slowed down –> pateint = more relaxed

Question 11

What do benzodiazepines do?

Answer 11

Quieting effect on CNS

Anxiety reduced –> less obsessions –> less compulsions

Question 12

Research support for SSRIs:

soomsoom
Chiaras boyfriend

Answer 12

Randomised drug trials compared effectiveness of SSRIs + placebo

Soomro et al (2008): conducted review of effectiveness of SSRIs –> found significantly more effective than placebo –> 17 trials

Only concludes short term effectiveness of drug treatment –> long term effects still investigated empirically.

Question 13

Symptoms not the cause :(

🕋☪️ we going to islam?

Answer 13

SSRIs increase serotinin levels in brain –> reduces anxiety + alleviates symptoms HOWEVER not treat underlying cause

Once patient stops taking drug –> prone to relapse

Koran et al (2007) : psychological treatments (CBT) = more effective long term solution + provide lasting treatment + potential cure.

Question 14

:) Preferable to other treatments:

Answer 14

• Requires** little input (time/effort)** from user.
• CBT requires attendance of regular meetings + considerable thought into tackling problems.
• Drug therpaies = cheaper for health service –> little monitoring + cost less than psychological treatments
• More economical + more attractive to patients = popular choice.

Question 15

:( Side effects:

Answer 15

Nausea, headaches + insomnia = common side-effects of SSRIs (Soomro et al 2008)

Benzodiazepines = increased aggressiveness + long term **impairment of memory
**
Problems with addiction = limited to max 4 weeks

Result in patients not wanting to take them

Limits usefulness/effectiveness of drug as treatment for OCD.