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Obsessive-compulsive disorder.
1Department of Psychiatry, University of California, Medical Center, Irvine, Orange 92668.
Hospital & Community Psychiatry
|July 1, 1992
Summary
Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) is common and challenging to treat. New serotonergic antidepressants and behavioral therapy show promise for managing OCD and related conditions.
Area of Science:
- Psychiatry
- Neuroscience
- Clinical Psychology
Background:
- Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) presents a significant clinical challenge, often proving resistant to conventional psychotherapies and medications.
- Recent data highlight OCD's prevalence and frequent comorbidity with conditions like phobia, depression, and alcohol abuse.
Observation:
- A review of current research examines the spectrum of OCD and related disorders.
- Studies indicate responsiveness to novel serotonergic antidepressants and established behavioral therapy techniques.
Findings:
- Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs), initially developed for depression, demonstrate efficacy in treating OCD symptoms.
- Clomipramine has shown the most significant positive outcomes in extensive clinical trials for OCD treatment.
- The shared effectiveness of SSRIs in both antidepressant and antiobsessional roles suggests underlying common biological mechanisms across these disorders.
Implications:
- Long-term pharmacologic management, particularly with SSRIs, is often necessary for patients with OCD.
- Behavioral therapy represents a viable and successful adjunct or alternative treatment modality for OCD.
- Understanding shared biological factors could lead to more targeted and effective therapeutic strategies for a range of psychiatric conditions.