Biological approach to treating OCD

• Drug therapy OCD -

  • aims to increase or decrease levels of neurotransmitters in the brain to increase/decrease their activity.
  • drug works to increase the level of serotonin in the brain
• Drug therapy OCD - SSRIs

  • antidepressant drug: selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor
  • serotonin is released by presynaptic neurons and travels across a synapse.
  • Neurotransmitter chemically conveys the signal from the presynaptic neuron to the postsynaptic neuron.
  • Then it is reabsorbed by the presynaptic neuron where it is broken down and reused.
  • This increases the levels of serotonin in the synapse
• Drug therapy OCD - SSRIs dosage


  varies

  • fluoxetine is 20 mg
  • capsules or liquid
  • takes 3 or 4 months of daily use for SSRIs to have much impact
• Drug therapy OCD - combining SSRIs

  • used alongside cognitive behaviour therapy to treat OCD
  • drugs reduce a person's emotional symptoms - anxious, depressed
  • means people with OCD can engage more effectively with CBT
• Alternatives to SSRIs

  • if not effective after three-four months dose can be increased or combined with other drugs
  • Tricyclics - acts on various systems like the serotonin system where it has the same effect as SSRIs. Has more severe side-effects than SSRIs .
  • SNRIs - different class of antidepressant drugs, second line of defence for people who don't respond to SSRIs. Increase levels of serotonin and noradrenaline.
• AO3 OCD - evidence for effectiveness

  • SSRIs reduce symptom severity and improve quality of life
  • Soomro - 17 studies that compared SSRIs to placebo in treatment of OCD. Showed better outcomes for SSRIs.
  • symptoms reduce 70%
• AO3 OCD - Serious side effects

  • side effects: indigestion, blurred vision and loss of sex drives
  • these can be distressing for people and can be long lasting
  • reduced quality of life as a result of taking drugs and may stop taking them altogether
  • cost - benefit