Psychopathology - BIOLOGICAL APPROACH TO TREATING OCD Flashcards
(35 cards)
THIS IS ALL ABOUT
DRUG THERAPY
DRUG THERAPY FOR MENTAL DISORDERS AIM to
increase or decrease levels of neurotransmitters in teh brian
or to
increase/decrease tehri activity
low levels of serotinin are asosociated with
OCD
As low levels of serotinin are asosociate dwith OCD , drugs to treat OCD work…
work in various wyas to increase teh leve of serotinin in the brain
standard medical treatment used to tackle symptoms of OCD involve
particular type of antidepressant drug
called a Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitor
where do SSRI’s work
on serotonin system in the brain
serotinin is relaeased by
certian neurons in teh brian
in particular what neuron is serotinin released by asn wehre does it travel across
presynaptic neurons and travesl across a synapse
after serotonin is released by presynaptc neruosn and travelsa cross a synapse
the neurotransmiterr chemicallt.
the NT chemically conveys the signal from teh presynaptic neuron to the postsyanptic neuron
and then it is reabsorbed by the presynaptic neuron
where its broken down and reused
by preveting the reabsorption and breakdown SSRIs effectivley
increase levels of serotonin in the synapse
and thus continue to stimulate hte post synaptic neuron
by preveting the reabsorption and breakdown SSRIs effectivley
and what does this compensate for
increase levels of serotonin in the synapse and thus continue to stimulate hte post synaptic neuron
this compensates for wjatever is wrong with thte serotnin system in OCD
Dosage and other advice vary according to
which SSRI is prescribed
a typical dose of fluoxetine is
20mg
a typical does of fluoxetine is 20mg although this may be
increased if tis not benefottom the person
SSRI is available as
capsules or liquid
how long doe it take SSRIs to have much impact on symptoms
3- 4 months of daily use
combining SSRIs with other treatments - drugs often used longside what to treat OCD
CBT
combining SSRIs with other treatments - why do drug used alingsdie CBT to treat OCD
drugs reduce persons emotional symptoms
e.g anxiety /depression
so people with OCD can engge more effectivley with CBT
combining SSRIs with other treatments - in practive some people respond best to
Whilst others
CBT alone whislt others benefit more when additionally using drugs like fluoxetine
combining SSRIs with other treatments - occasionaly what is prescribed alongside SSRIs
OTHER DRUGS
ALTERNATIVES to SSRIS - when ssri not efective after 3 -4 months what are the options
dose can be increased
or ssri can be comboed with toehr drugs
ALTERNATIVES to SSRIS - somwtimes differnet antidpressats are tried
people repsond very diferently to….
2 points
different drugs
alternatives work well for some people and not at all for others
ALTERNATIVES to SSRIS - what are the 2 alternative antidepressants
tricyclics
SNRIs
ALTERNATIVES to SSRIS - tricyclics are an older type of
antidepresant