Pluralist Psychiatry Deck
Exploring Mental Health Through Multiple Lenses
Beyond DSM checklists → Toward integrated understanding
Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD)
Biological Lens
Core Perspective:
Neurobiological dysfunction in cortico-striato-thalamo-cortical circuits
Key Points:
- Dysregulation in serotonin neurotransmitter systems
- Hyperactivity in orbitofrontal cortex and anterior cingulate
- Genetic heritability estimated at 45-65%
- Response to SSRIs suggests serotonergic involvement
Primary Interventions:
Pharmacotherapy (SSRIs, clomipramine) + neurostimulation techniques
Limitations:
Doesn't explain cultural variations or meaning-making aspects
1 of 5 lenses
Discussion Prompts for Your Team
• Which lens resonates most with your clinical experience?
• How might combining 2-3 lenses change your treatment approach?
• What blind spots might each lens create?
• How do patient preferences align with different lenses?
• What would truly integrated care look like?
• How can we move beyond diagnostic reductionism?