Treatment

• Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs)


  Act on the serotonin system by preventing the reuptake and breaking down of serotonin by the presynaptic neuron

  Increasing the concentration of serotonin within the synapse = post-synaptic neuron to be continually stimulated
• Tricyclics


  Have a similar effect to SSRIs, but are reserved for those who do not respond well to SSRIs

  Older form of antidepressant but has servere side effects
• Selective noradrenaline-reuptake inhibitors (SNRIs)


  Increase the concentration of the serotonin AND noradrenaline neurotransmitter
• Soomro et al -meta-analysis SSRIs


  • reviewed 17 studies on SSRIs in OCD patients
  • 70% of patients found it more effective than placebo's up to 3 months after treatment
  • 30% better with ALT therapies
• Soomro - cons

  no data of long-term benefits
• Koran et al - drug therapies not soley important


  found long-term help requires Cognitive Behavioral Therapy alongside drug therapy
• Skapinakis et al - limited effectiveness


  found both Cognitive and behavioral (exposure) therapy more effective than drug therapy at all
• non-disruptive and cost-effective 


  • that allows people to work and contribute to the economy
  • supportive studies suggest that this is a good use of NHS limited funds, unlike therapies
• Controversy over drug effectiveness

  • promotion of drugs can lead to biases due to researchers being sponsored by drug companies selectively publishing positive outcomes
  • reduces reliability of findings
• side effects 


  SSRI side effects (distressing for patients):

  • indigestion
  • blurred vision
  • loss of sex drive

  tricyclics side effects more common:

  • 1 / 100 = heart problems + increased aggression