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Drug Therapies: OCD

Drug therapies are based on the assumption that drugs can cure a neurochemical imbalance, which is seen as the cause of OCD. Two types of drug are used for the treatment of OCD: antidepressants and anti-anxiety drugs. SSRIs (antidepressants) increase the level of serotonin in the synapse and result in more serotonin being received by the receiving cell, thus reducing the symptoms of OCD.

Benzodiazepines (BZs) are a range of anti-anxiety drugs, which include trade names like Valium and Diazepam. BZs work by enhancing the action of the neurotransmitter GABA. GABA tells neurons in the brain to ‘slow down’ and ‘stop firing’ which means that BZs have a general quietening influence on the brain and consequently reduce anxiety experienced as a result of the obsessive thoughts.

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