Biological OCD treatments

• Drug therapies are the easiest and most accessible treatment of OCD

  Gava et Al (2007) reported drug therapy is currently the most commonly used treatment for OCD
• • The most common drugs used for OCD are antidepressants
  • Low levels 😕 of the neurotransmitter serotonin are associated with depression as well as OCD, so drugs to increase levels of serotonin are used to treat both disorders
• Low levels of serotonin implicate a "worry circuit" so, when serotonin levels are increases, this will normalise the circuit.

  • Antidepressants are used to reduce the anxiety associated with OCD. - selective serotonin re-uptake inhibitors (SSRIs) are currently the preferred drug for treating anxiety disorders, including OCD
• SSRIs, such as Prozac and Zoloft increase levels of serotonin, which regulates mood and anxiety.

  • Serotonin is released into a synapse from one neuron.It targets receptor cells on the receiving neuron at receptor sites and, afterwards, is re-absorbed by the initial neuron sending the message.
  • In order to increase serotonin levels at the synapse, and increase simulation to the receiving neuron, this re-absorbtion (re-uptake) is inhibited