Treatment

• What do biological treatments to OCD aim to do?

  Restore neurochemical imbalances in the brain with the intention to reduce behavioural, cognitive and emotional symptoms
• What is an example of an antidepressant drug?

  SSRIs
• What do SSRIs do?

  Prevent the reabsorption and breakdown of serotonin in the synaptic gap in order to continue stimulating the post-synaptic neuron
• Where is serotonin released from?

  The pre-synaptic cells
• Where does serotonin travel to?

  Receptor sites on the post-synaptic neuron
• What happens to the serotonin that is left unabsorbed in the post-synaptic neuron?

  Reabsorbed into the sending cell
• What do SSRIs work to increase?

  Levels of serotonin available in the synapse to prevent reabsorption, acting as a blocker
• What does increased concentration of serotonin in the synapse lead to?

  Increased stimulation on the receiving nerve
• What are alternate drug treatments to OCD aside from SSRIs?

  Anti-anxiety drugs, tricyclics and SNRIs
• What do anti-anxiety drugs aims to do?

  Enhance activity of GABA and therefore slow down the CNS, causing relaxation
• What is an example of an anti-anxiety drug?

  Benzodiazepines
• What percentage of neurone in the brain respond to GABA?

  40%
• What do tricyclics aims to do?


  Block the transporter mechanism reabsorbing both serotonin and noradrenaline, prolonging their activity
• What do SNRIs aim to do?

  More recent drugs, aiming to increase levels of serotonin and noradrenaline
• Who is given SNRIs?

  OCD patients for whom SSRIs are not effective
• Why are SNRIs not frequently prescribed?

  Expense and cost set by monopoly companies