treating OCD

• Drug therapy for mental disorders such as OCD alters neurotransmitter levels or activity in the brain. In OCD, low serotonin levels are treated with drugs aiming to elevate serotonin. Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs), like fluoxetine, are standard antidepressants for OCD. SSRIs prevent serotonin reuptake, boosting serotonin levels in synapses to stimulate postsynaptic neurons. This compensates for whatever is faulty with the serotonin system in OCD.
• SSRIs may be complemented with cognitive behaviour therapy (CBT), enhancing emotional symptoms management and increasing CBT engagement. For non-responsive cases, dose adjustments or combination therapies may be recommended. Tricyclics like clomipramine, acting similarly to SSRIs but with more side effects, serve as a secondary option for people who do not respond to SSRIs. Serotonin-noradrenaline reuptake inhibitors (SNRIs) are another option, affecting both serotonin and noradrenaline levels, and often also reserved for SSRI-resistant cases. 
• Point: A strength of drug treatment for OCD is good evidence for its effectiveness.

  Evidence: Soomro (2009) reviewed 17 studies comparing SSRIs to placebos in OCD treatment and consistently showed better outcomes for SSRIs. 

  Explain: Approximately 70% of individuals experience symptom reduction with SSRIs, and alternative drugs or combinations with psychological therapies benefit the remaining 30%.

  Link: Therefore, this suggests that drugs are a valuable treatment option for the majority of OCD patients.
• Point: There is some evidence to suggest that even if drug treatments are helpful for most people with OCD they may not be the most effective treatments available.

  Evidence: Skapinakis (2016) found cognitive and behavioural therapies to be more effective than SSRIs in treating OCD.

  Explain: This indicates that while drugs may offer benefits, other therapies might provide superior outcomes for OCD.

  Link: Thus, drugs may not represent the optimum treatment choice for OCD in all cases.
• Point: One further strength of drugs is that they are cost-effective and non-disruptive to people's lives.

  Evidence: Drug treatments are generally cheaper and less disruptive to people’s lives compared to psychological therapies.

  Explain: This implies that drugs are more accessible and convenient for OCD patients and their doctors, contributing to their popularity.

  Link: Therefore, drugs represent a practical and preferred treatment choice for OCD management in many cases.
• Point: limitation of drug treatments for OCD is that drugs can have potentially serious side-effects.

  Evidence: While SSRIs help most individuals, a minority experience no benefit and may suffer from side-effects such as indigestion, blurred vision, and loss of sex drive. 

  Explain: In addition, Tricyclics like clomipramine pose a higher risk of severe side-effects, such as aggression and heart-related problems.

  Link: Thus, this shows that some individuals may experience reduced quality of life due to drug side-effects, potentially leading to discontinuation of treatment and loss of efficacy.