A01

• What are two types of drugs used to treat OCD?

  1. Anti-depressants

  2. Anti-anxiety drugs
• State the three types of antidepressant drugs used to treat OCD


  1. Selective serotonin re-uptake inhibitors (SSRIs)

  2. Tricyclics

  3. Serotonin-noradrenaline reuptake inhibitors (SNRIs)
• Explain how SSRIs increase serotonin levels

  They inhibit the re-absorption (re-uptake) of serotonin in the pre-synaptic neuron which then increases the concentration of serotonin at the synapse
• Explain how SNRIs treat OCD

  They block the transporter mechanism that re-absorbs both serotonin and noradrenaline in the pre-synaptic cleft after it has fired
• What is a disadvantage of using tricyclics?

  They have more severe side effects than SSRIs
• How do anti-anxiety drugs work?

  They reduce anxiety by slowing down the activity of the CNS by enhancing the activity of the neurotransmitter GABA e.g. benzodiazepines
• What effect does GABA have on the CNS?

  A quietening effect which reduces anxiety
• What is the difference between SSRIs and SNRIs?

  SSRIs stop the reuptake of serotonin whereas SNRIs stop the reuptake of both serotonin and noradrenaline
• Outline research evidence that's shown the effectiveness of drug treatment for OCD

  Soomro et al. (2009):

  - Reviewed 17 studies comparing SSRIs to placebos

  - Found that SSRIs are more effective than placebos in reducing symptoms of OCD
• Outline two disadvantages of using drug therapy

  1. Side effects - nausea, headaches, hallucinations, aggressiveness

  2. Not a lasting cure symptoms return when patient stops taking medication