BIO - TREATING OCD

• Drug therapy for mental disorders aims to increase or decrease levels of neurotransmitters in the brain or to increase/decrease their activity.
• SSRIs:


  The standard medical treatment used to tackle the symptoms of OCD involves a particular type of antidepressant drug called SSRI.

  SSRIs attach to the presynaptic neuron and stop the serotonin from being reabsorbed back to the presynaptic neuron, increasing the serotonin levels in the brain.
• Combining SSRIs with other treatments:

  Drugs are often used alongside CBT to treat OCD. The drugs reduce a person's emotional symptoms meaning people with OCD can engage more effectively with CBT.
• Alternatives to SSRIs:


  Tricyclics and SNRIs act as a second line of defence for people who do not respond to SSRIs, and both increase levels of serotonin.
• Strength (1)


  Evidence of effectiveness - good evidence that SSRIs reduce symptom severity and improve quality of life for people with OCD. MUSTAFA ET AL reviewed 17 studies that compared SSRIs to placebos and all of them showed significantly better outcomes for SSRIs and for the remaining 30% symptoms can be helped with a combination of treatments such as CBT.
• Strength (2)


  Cost effective and non-disruptive to people's lives - good value for manufacturers and health services and SSRIs reduces symptoms and do not disrupt people's lives like going to weekly therapy sessions.
• Limitation (1)


  Potentially serious side effects - indigestion, blurred vision and loss of sex drive. Some may usually be temporary but distressing - reduced quality of life.