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Published on: November 25, 2025
Serotonergic dissection of obsessive compulsive symptoms: a challenge study with m-chlorophenylpiperazine and
Ruth Gross-Isseroff1, Rivka Cohen, Yehuda Sasson
1Division of Psychiatry, Chaim Sheba Medical Center, Tel Hashomer, Israel. risseroff@yahoo.com
Abstract:
We have conducted a pharmacological challenge experiment in 10 medication-free obsessive compulsive (OC) disorder (OCD) patients. We used a placebo-controlled paradigm for m-chlorophenylpiperazine (mCPP) and sumatriptan challenges. Endocrine, physiological and behavioral variables were assessed at baseline and over a 3-hour period after the challenge. Both cortisol and prolactin were significantly elevated in OCD patients following mCPP administration. Both mCPP and sumatriptan caused significant OC symptom exacerbation with the response to sumatriptan being more robust. We conclude that the 5-HT(1Dbeta) receptor may play a role in the pathophysiology of OCD.
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