Treatment In Psychopathology

Question 1

What are SSRIS?

Answer 1

Selective serotonin re-uptake inhibitors
- reuptaking is when remaining neurotransmitters that aren’t taken up by the desired neurones during synaptic transmission go back to the same neurones they were released from
- inhibiting high levels of serotonin reuptaking allows a higher concentration of serotonin to remain in the synaptic cleft to be taken up by other neurones

Question 2

Put very simply, why are SSRIS useful in treating OCD?

Answer 2

Serotonin deficiencies are associated with development and maintenance of OCD, so increasing serotonin concentration that is synaptically transmitted allows effective treatment of OCD

Question 3

What are the names of some common SSRIS?

Answer 3

Fluvoxamine, Prozac, sertraline

Question 4

Which less effective drug therapy to treat OCD came before SSRIS and which was the most effective one?

Answer 4

SRI’s (serotonin reuptake inhibitors) - less selective in acting
Most effective: clomipramine

Question 5

How has research shown the role of serotonin in OCD is oversimplified in drug therapy?

Answer 5

Dolberg et al, 1996: over a long time, the effects of SSRI’s on serotonin receptors produced a decrease in the availability of serotonin, meaning the effectiveness of SSRI’s seem to only be positive initially and not for long-term use