OCD Treatment

• SSRIs= Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors
• SSRIs prevent the reabsorption of serotonin after transmission which increases levels of serotonin in synapse and reduces OCD symptoms
• SSRIs take 3/4 months for impact
• Tricyclics have the same effect as SSRIs but worse side effects (e.g. nausea, headaches, hallucinations and insomnia)
• Mustafa et al (2009) - reviewed 17 studies that compared SSRIS to placebos and found that SSRIs were more effective than placebos

  • typically symptoms reduce by 70% with SSRIs
• SSRIs inhibit the reuptake absorption of serotonin which happens too fast in people with OCD
• By preventing the reabsorption of and breakdown of serotonin, SSRIs increase levels of serotonin in the synapse
• Serotonin is released by the presynaptic neuron and travels across the synapse to the postsynaptic neuron and then it is reabsorbed by the presynaptic neuron where it is broken down and reused
• SSRIs take 3/4 months of daily use to have an impact on symptoms
• If SSRIs are not effective after 4 months, the does can be increased or it can be combined with other drugs:

  • tricyclics
  • SNRIs
• Trycyclics work in the same way as SSRIs but are stronger and have more severe symptoms (nausea, insomnia and migraines)
• SNRIS = Serotonin noradrenaline reuptake inhibitors - increase serotonin as well as noradrenaline
• Biological treatment of OCD - PEEL 1:

  Strength - Drug therapy is non-disruptive to peoples lives as they don't have to give up time to go to therapy
• Biological treatment of OCD - PEEL 2:

  Strength - SSRIs are cost-effective as they are cheaper than other psychological treatments
• Biological treatment of OCD - PEEL 3:

  Strength - evidence for effectiveness - Mustafa et al - drugs appear to help most people with OCD
• Biological treatment of OCD - PEEL 4:

  Weakness - Drugs can have serious side effects and have an impact on vision (blurred) and sleep pattern (disrpupted)
• Biological treatment of OCD - PEEL 5:

  Weakness - Publication Bias - positive results are more likely to be published as drug companies sponsor drug trials and so they want to publish only positive outcomes