The biological approach to treating OCD: drug therapy
Doctors treat OCD with drugs that correct chemical imbalances in the brain. The most common drugs increase the availability of serotonin, a neurotransmitter linked to mood and anxiety.
Real World
Fluoxetine (Prozac), an SSRI, is the most commonly prescribed drug for OCD in the UK. NICE guidelines recommend it as a first-choice treatment, with patients typically waiting 8–12 weeks before noticing significant improvement in their compulsive behaviours.
Exam Focus
Distinguish SSRIs from tricyclics and SNRIs clearly; examiners reward accurate knowledge of drug mechanisms over vague references to 'medication.'
Evaluation Scaffold
A four-step framework for high-quality evaluation. Use this for 'assess', 'evaluate', and 'to what extent' questions.
How well did you know this?