biological approach to treating oCD

• What do biological treatments for OCD aim to do?

  Restore chemical imbalances in the brain.
• What is the main cause of OCD according to the biological explanation?

  Low levels of serotonin in the brain.
• What type of antidepressant is commonly used to treat OCD?

  SSRIs (selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors).
• How do SSRIs work to improve mood and reduce anxiety in OCD patients?

  By increasing the level of serotonin available in the synapse.
• What happens when serotonin is released into the synapse?

  It travels to the receptor sites on the post-synaptic neuron.
• What is the role of SSRIs in preventing serotonin reabsorption?

  They prevent serotonin from being reabsorbed into the pre-synaptic neuron.
• What effect does increasing the level of serotonin in the synapse have?

  It improves the concentration of serotonin at the receptor sites on the post-synaptic neuron.
• What is the purpose of combining SSRIs with other drugs?

  To increase effectiveness if SSRIs alone are not effective.
• What are tricyclics?

  An older type of antidepressant.
• How do tricyclics affect serotonin levels?

  They have the same effect on serotonin as SSRIs.
• What is a potential drawback of tricyclics compared to SSRIs?

  They have more severe side effects.
• What are SNRIs?


  A second line of defense for patients who don't respond to SSRIs.
• What is the difference between SSRIs and SNRIs in terms of neurotransmitters affected?

  SNRIs increase serotonin levels as well as noradrenaline.
• What can be done if an SSRI is not effective after three to four months?

  The dose can be increased or it can be combined with other drugs.
• Do all patients respond the same way to different drugs?

  No, patients respond differently to different drugs.
• What did Soomro et al. (2008) find in their review of SSRIs?


  SSRIs were significantly more effective than placebos in treating OCD.
• What is a criticism of studies like Soomro et al. (2008)?

  They only conclude short-term effectiveness, not long-term effects.
• How do drug therapies compare to psychological treatments in terms of cost?

  Drug therapies are relatively more cost-effective.
• What is a benefit of drug treatments in terms of ecological validity?

  They are non-disruptive to everyday life.
• Who are drug treatments likely to be more successful for?

  Patients who lack motivation for intense psychological treatments.
• What are some potential side effects of drug treatments?

  Indigestion, hallucinations, erection problems, raised blood pressure.
• How do side effects affect the effectiveness of drug treatments?

  They diminish effectiveness as patients may stop taking medication.
• What is a criticism of drug treatments?

  They treat symptoms, not the cause, leading to relapse.
• What does Koran et al. (2007) suggest as a potential long-term solution?

  Psychological treatments like CBT.
• What is the potential benefit of psychological treatments over drug treatments?

  They may provide a lasting treatment and potential cure.