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Related Concept Videos

Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder01:28

Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder

Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) is a mental health condition characterized by recurrent obsessions, compulsions, or both, which consume significant time and interfere with daily functioning. Obsessions involve persistent, intrusive, and unwanted thoughts, images, or urges that evoke anxiety. Common examples include irrational fears of contamination or harm. Compulsions are repetitive behaviors or mental acts performed to reduce the anxiety caused by obsessions. For instance, individuals...
Antidepressant Drugs: Tricyclics, SSRIs, and SNRIs01:28

Antidepressant Drugs: Tricyclics, SSRIs, and SNRIs

Tricyclic Antidepressants (TCAs), including Desipramine (Norpramin), Imipramine (Tofranil), Clomipramine (Anafranil), and Amitriptyline (Elavil), inhibit serotonin and norepinephrine reuptake and also block other receptors. They are used for depression, pain conditions, and insomnia. Common adverse effects include anticholinergic effects, sedation, orthostatic hypotension, and weight gain. They have a narrow therapeutic window and so require plasma-level monitoring. Abrupt discontinuation can...
Antidepressant Drugs: MAOIs and Other Agents01:23

Antidepressant Drugs: MAOIs and Other Agents

Atypical antidepressants, including bupropion (Wellbutrin), mirtazapine (Remeron), nefazodone (Serzone), trazodone (Desyrel), and vilazodone (Viibryd), offer unique mechanisms of action. Bupropion weakly inhibits dopamine and norepinephrine reuptake, aiding depression treatment and smoking cessation, with a low risk of sexual dysfunction. Mirtazapine enhances serotonin and norepinephrine neurotransmission, leading to sedation, increased appetite, and weight gain. As a result, it helps treat...
Anxiety: Overview01:18

Anxiety: Overview

Anxiety is a common mental disorder featuring excessive worry, fear, and apprehension, significantly affecting daily life. People with anxiety disorders experience persistent and intense anxiety, interrupting their everyday functioning.
Individuals with anxiety often experience a range of physical and emotional symptoms, including sweating, trembling, tachycardia, and disturbances in sleep patterns. These symptoms vary in intensity and frequency but are generally disruptive and distressing.
Psychosis: Goals of Pharmacotherapy01:26

Psychosis: Goals of Pharmacotherapy

Antipsychotic drugs are a crucial treatment method for acute and chronic psychoses, bipolar illness, and behavioral disorders. The selection of these drugs depends on several factors, including the state of the disease, clinical judgment, possible drug interactions, and the patient's sensitivity to adverse effects. In immediate scenarios, such as delirium and dementia, short-term treatment with low doses of high-potency typical or atypical agents can effectively manage symptom exacerbation. For...
Personality Disorders: Dependent and Obsessive-Compulsive01:24

Personality Disorders: Dependent and Obsessive-Compulsive

Dependent personality disorder and obsessive-compulsive personality disorder are two separate psychological conditions that influence behavior, relationships, and overall life functioning. Though both involve maladaptive behaviors, their core characteristics and motivations differ significantly.
 Dependent Personality Disorder
Dependent personality disorder is characterized by an excessive reliance on others to manage various aspects of life. Individuals with this disorder often struggle with...

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Genome-wide analyses identify 30 loci associated with obsessive-compulsive disorder.

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Genome-wide analyses identify 30 loci associated with obsessive-compulsive disorder.

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Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jun 19, 2026

Protocol for Repetitive Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation with Symptom Provocation to Treat Obsessive-compulsive Disorder
11:17

Protocol for Repetitive Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation with Symptom Provocation to Treat Obsessive-compulsive Disorder

Published on: November 25, 2025

Clomipramine use in obsessive-compulsive disorder.

Jennifer L Ivey1, David R Rosenberg

  • 1Department of Psychiatry, Wayne State University School of Medicine, UPC-Jefferson, 2751 East Jefferson Avenue, Detroit, MI 48207, USA. jivyelee@hotmail.com

Expert Review of Neurotherapeutics
|October 9, 2009
PubMed
Summary

Clomipramine remains a key treatment for obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) when selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) fail. Emerging research explores advanced clomipramine therapies for treatment-resistant OCD.

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Signal Attenuation as a Rat Model of Obsessive Compulsive Disorder
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Exploring the Neural Correlates of Cognitive Reappraisal in Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder Using Task-based Functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging
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Exploring the Neural Correlates of Cognitive Reappraisal in Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder Using Task-based Functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging

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Last Updated: Jun 19, 2026

Protocol for Repetitive Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation with Symptom Provocation to Treat Obsessive-compulsive Disorder
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Published on: November 25, 2025

Signal Attenuation as a Rat Model of Obsessive Compulsive Disorder
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Signal Attenuation as a Rat Model of Obsessive Compulsive Disorder

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Exploring the Neural Correlates of Cognitive Reappraisal in Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder Using Task-based Functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging
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Published on: March 14, 2025

Area of Science:

  • Pharmacology
  • Psychiatry
  • Neuroscience

Background:

  • Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) and clomipramine are primary monotherapies for obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD).
  • Meta-analyses indicate potential superiority of clomipramine over other SSRIs for OCD treatment.
  • Direct comparisons show SSRIs offer comparable efficacy with fewer side effects and better adherence than clomipramine.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To review the current role of clomipramine in obsessive-compulsive disorder pharmacotherapy.
  • To evaluate the comparative efficacy and tolerability of clomipramine versus SSRIs.
  • To explore novel therapeutic strategies involving clomipramine for refractory OCD.

Main Methods:

  • Review of meta-analyses comparing clomipramine and SSRIs for OCD.
  • Analysis of double-blind, direct comparison trials.
  • Examination of recent investigations into advanced clomipramine formulations and combinations.

Main Results:

  • Clomipramine is effective as monotherapy for OCD, particularly when SSRIs are insufficient.
  • SSRIs demonstrate equal efficacy to clomipramine but with improved side effect profiles and adherence.
  • Up to one-third of OCD patients may not respond sufficiently to multiple SSRI trials, necessitating alternative treatments like clomipramine.

Conclusions:

  • Clomipramine retains a crucial role in managing treatment-resistant obsessive-compulsive disorder.
  • Intravenous clomipramine and combined oral clomipramine therapies show promise for refractory cases.
  • Further research is warranted to optimize clomipramine-based strategies for severe OCD.