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Citalopram in refractory obsessive-compulsive disorder: an open study.
D Marazziti1, L Dell'Osso, A Gemignani
1Department of Psychiatry, Neurobiology, Pharmacology and Biotechnology, University of Pisa, Italy. dmarazzi@psico.med.unipi.it
International Clinical Psychopharmacology
|July 19, 2001
Summary
Citalopram effectively treated refractory obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) in patients unresponsive to other treatments. Most patients showed symptom reduction with minimal side effects, suggesting citalopram as a viable option for difficult OCD cases.
Area of Science:
- Psychiatry
- Clinical Pharmacology
Background:
- Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) is a debilitating mental health condition.
- Refractory OCD cases often lack effective treatment options.
- Previous serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SRI) treatments may fail in some patients.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the efficacy of citalopram in patients with treatment-resistant OCD.
- To assess the safety and tolerability of citalopram in this patient population.
Main Methods:
- Eighteen patients diagnosed with OCD (DSM-IV criteria) and refractory to prior antiobsessional treatments were enrolled.
- Patients received citalopram, titrated to 40 mg daily over 2 weeks.
- Treatment duration was 4 months, with symptom severity assessed using the Yale-Brown Obsessive Compulsive Scale (Y-BOCS).
Main Results:
- Fourteen out of 18 patients (77.8%) demonstrated a reduction in obsessive-compulsive symptoms.
- Symptom reduction was measured by the decrease in Y-BOCS total scores.
- No significant adverse effects were reported, apart from transient mild nausea in four patients.
Conclusions:
- Citalopram appears to be an effective and well-tolerated treatment strategy for patients with refractory OCD.
- This study supports the use of citalopram as a therapeutic option for difficult-to-treat OCD cases.