Biological approach to treating OCD

Drug therapy

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 to tackle symptoms of OCD involve the drug called SELECTIVE SEROTONIN REUPTAKE INHIBITOR

• SSRIs work on the serotonin system in the brain

• Serotonin is released by certain neurons in the brain. It is released by the presynaptic neurons and travel across a synapse. The neurotransmitter chemically conveys the signal from the presynaptic neuron to the postsynaptic neuron and then it is reabsorbed by the presynaptic neuron where it is broken down and reused

• By preventing reabsorption and breakdown, SSRIs effectively increase levels of serotonin in the synapse and thus continue to stimulate the postsynaptic neuron

• Dosages and other advice vary according to which SSRI is prescribed and fhdh take about 3 to 4 months of daily use to have much impact on symptoms

Combining SSRIs with other treatments

• drugs are often used alongside COGNITIVE BEHAVIOUR THERAPY (CBT) to treat OCD . the drugs reduce a persons emotional symptoms, such as feeling anxious of depressed , this means that people will engage more effectively with the CBT

Alternatives to SSRIs

when an SSRI is not effective after 3 to 4 months the dose can be increased or take alongside other drugs

• tricyclics are sometimes used , such as clomipramine. This acts on various systems including serotonin where it has the same effects as the SSRIs. Clomipramine has more severe side effects

• SNRIs increase the levels of serotonin as well as another neurotransmitter (noradrenaline)

Evaluation

• one strength of drug treatment is good evidence for its effectiveness - There is clear evidence to show that SSRIs Reduce symptoms, severity and improve the quality of life for people with OCD. Soomro (2009) Review 17 students that compared SSRIs to placebos. All 17 students showed significantly better outcomes for SSRIs than for the placebo conditions

• One strength is that the drugs are cost-effective and non-destructive to peoples lives - Drug treatments are cheap compared to psychological treatments because many thousands of tablets or liquid can be manufactured in the time taken to conduct one session of psychological therapy. Using drugs to treat OCD is therefore good value for public health systems like the NHS

• Limitation is that drugs comp potentially have serious side-effects - Some people who take these drugs can experience indigestion, blurred vision and loss of sex Drive. These side effects are usually temporary, However, they can be quite distressing for people and for a minority they’re long lasting