The Biological approach to treating OCD

drug therapies for OCD

• anti- depressant drugs- SSRIs

• anti anxiety drugs- BZs

SSRIs

SSRIs block the reabsorption of Serotonin which improves mood and reduce anxiety which is experienced by patients with OCD

BZs

BZs work by enhancing the action of the neurotransmitter GABA. GABA tells neurons in the brain to ‘slow down’ and around 40% of the neurons in the brain respond to GABA. This means BZs have a general quieting influence on the brain and consequently reduce anxiety, which is experienced as a result of obsessive thoughts

Soomro et al

• reviewed 17 studies of SSRIs vs placebo treatments

• 3097 patients

• SSRIs moderately effective in short term

• lending degree of support to treatment

psychosurgery

a biological treatment of OCD through irreversible destruction/ removal of brain tissue

Richter et al (psychosurgery)

• 30% OCD patients had a 35% or greater reduction in symptoms

• occasional side effects like incontinence and seizures

• good as last resort, e.g. patients at risk of suicide