Related Experiment Videos
New pharmacologic approaches to obsessive compulsive disorder
1Laboratory of Clinical Science, National Institute of Mental Health, Poolesville, Md. 20837.
The Journal of Clinical Psychiatry
|October 1, 1990
Summary
Obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD) is treatable with specific therapies. Antidepressants targeting serotonin reuptake show efficacy, though only about 50% of patients respond to pharmacologic trials.
Area of Science:
- Psychiatry
- Neuroscience
- Pharmacology
Background:
- Obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD) was historically viewed as difficult to treat.
- Recent research indicates most OCD patients benefit from behavioral or pharmacologic interventions.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review the pharmacologic treatments for obsessive compulsive disorder.
- To explore the efficacy and mechanisms of antiobsessional drugs.
Main Methods:
- Review of treatment studies on pharmacologic therapies for OCD.
- Analysis of antidepressant drug efficacy, focusing on serotonin reuptuptake inhibitors.
- Examination of adjunctive treatments and neuroleptics for specific OCD patient groups.
Main Results:
- Clomipramine, fluvoxamine, and fluoxetine are effective antiobsessional drugs.
- Prolonged treatment (over 6 weeks) is necessary for clinical response.
- A serotonergic mechanism is suggested by drug action and clinical response correlation.
- Approximately 50% of OCD patients respond to pharmacologic treatments.
- Adjunctive treatments like lithium and L-tryptophan may help some patients.
- Neuroleptics can be beneficial for OCD patients with psychotic features or tics.
Conclusions:
- Most OCD patients can respond to specific behavioral or pharmacologic therapies.
- Serotonin reuptake inhibition is a key mechanism for antiobsessional drugs.
- Pharmacologic treatment should be integrated with behavioral and psychosocial interventions for comprehensive OCD care.