[Clomipramine in the treatment of obsessive-compulsive disorder. An open 8-week trial]

Among many drugs used for treatment of obsessive-compulsive disorder clomipramine is still considered as model drug though serotoninergic mechanism is common for many antidepressants. The study was carried out in order to assess the potential and dynamic of antiobsessive and anticompulsive efficacy of clomipramine used in normal therapeutic doses during eight week trial. The study was carried out with the help of Asta Medica company and trade name of the used drug was Hydiphen. The severity of obsessive-compulsive disorder was evaluated at the moment of inclusion to the study and then once every week. The obsessive-compulsive scale Y-BOCS was employed. 27 patietnts (16 women and 11 men) at aged 18-64, from different mental health care centers in Poland participated in this study. The study was completed by 67% of patients--due to lack of therapeutical effect the treatment of others patients was stopped. Among the patients who responded well to clomipramine therapy, improvement was observed after the first week and then the dynamic of improvement decreased after 4 weeks. During the 7th week the drug reached its maximal efficacy level with statistically significant reduction in scores of Y-BOCS scale. The range of therapeutic doses was 75-250 mg. In this range no seriouse adverse events were observed and some of mild ones that occurred at the beginning of the therapy diminished during the next week.