biological approach to treating OCD- drug therapy

what do drug treatments alter

activity of neurotransmitters helping to correct any underlying chemical imbalances which may cause OCD symptoms

what do antidepressants do

increase levels of serotonin

type of antidepressants used in drug treatment of OCD

SSRIs

what does SSRI mean

selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors

how do SSRIs work

- block reabsorbtion of serotonin into presynaptic cell

- increasing levels of available serotonin in the synapse

- enabling continued stimulation of post-synaptic neuron

example of SSRI

Fluoxetine (Prozac)

other types of drugs used

- antipsychotic drugs

- anti-anxiety drugs

how do antipsychotic drugs work

reduce activity of dopamine by blocking post-synaptic receptors

how do anti-anxiety drugs work?

increase activity of GABA, which has a calming effect on CNS

example of anti-anxiety drug

benzodiazepines

strength of drug therapy- quick and effective symptom reduction

- provide rapid relief from symptoms

- SSRIs shown to be effective in reducing OCD symptoms by increasing serotonin levels in brain

- Soomro et al. (2008)- SSRIs more effective than placebos at treating OCD- patients experienced notable reduction in obsessive and compulsive behaviours

speed and convenience- useful for those who don't have access to therapy/experiencing severe symptoms

- practical first line of treatment whilst waiting for further therapeutic support

strength of drug therapy- cost effective and widely accessible

- cost effective and widely accessible compared to psychological therapies, e.g. CBT

- prescribed by GPs, don't need specialist psychological services so more readily available to a larger population

- availability of generic versions of SSRIs means cost is low

- practical option for public health systems

weakness of drug therapies- side effects and dependence risk

- potential for side effects and dependency

- SSRIs cause a range of side effects- nausea, headaches, insomnia, increased anxieyty

- Koran et al. (2007)- whilst SSRIs effective, significant no. patients discontinued use due to adverse side effects

- may develop dependency- withdrawal symptoms when attempt to stop

- reliance on medication stops patients addressing underlying psychological causes of OCD- relapse if stopped

weakness of drug therapies- symptom managament rather than cure

- primarily focus on managing symptoms than addressing root cause of disorder

- Simpson et al. (2004)- high relapse rate when medication discontinued, suggests treatment not curative

- patients may need long-term/lifetime use of these drugs- problematic due to side effects/dependence risks

- do not provide patients with coping mechanisms to manage disorder independently unlike CBT which changes maladaptive thoughts/behaviours