Drug Therapy

• Biological treatments for OCD aim to restore biological imbalances, such as too little serotonin.
• Biological treatments for OCD focus on drug therapy.
• SSRIs are drugs used to treat symptoms of OCD.
• Two types of drug are used for the treatment of OCD; anti-depressants and anti-anxiety drugs.
• SSRIs (selective serotonin re-uptake inhibitors) are one type of anti-depressant drug, which include drugs like Prozac.
• When serotonin is released from the pre-synaptic cell into the synapse, it travels to the receptor sites on the post-synaptic neuron. Serotonin which is not absorbed into the post-synaptic neuron is reabsorbed into the sending cell (the pre-synaptic neuron).
• SSRIs increase the level of serotonin available in the synapse by preventing it from being reabsorbed into the sending cell.
• SSRIs increase level of serotonin at the synapse which results in more serotonin being received by the receiving cell (post-synaptic neuron).
• Anti-depressants (like anti-anxiety drugs) improve mood and reduce anxiety which is experienced by patients with OCD.
• Benzodiazepines (BZs) are a range of anti-anxiety drugs, which include trade names like Valium and Diazepam.
• BZs work by enhancing the action of the neurotransmitter GABA (gamma-aminobutyric acid).
• GABA tells neurons in the brain to ‘slow down’ and ‘stop firing’ and around 40% of the neurons in the brain respond to GABA.
• BZs have a general quietening influence on the brain and consequently reduce anxiety, which is experienced as a result of the obsessive thoughts.
• SSRIs like fluoxetine block the reuptake of surplus serotonin.
• Soomro et al (2008) conducted a meta-analysis of 17 different studies that used SSRIs with OCD patients.
• Soomro et al (2008) found SSRIs to be more effective than placebos in the short-term.
• Drugs are often used alongside psychological therapies such as CBT.
• When an SSRI is not effective after 3 or 4 months, the dosage can be increased.
• Tricyclics such as clomipramine are sometimes used as an alternative medication.
• SNRIs are serotonin noradrenaline reuptake inhibitors, which can also be used to treat OCD.
• SNRIs are sometimes used if patients do not respond to SSRIs.