Clomipramine and obsessive compulsive disorder: a placebo-controlled double-blind study of 32 patients

Thirty-two nondepressed patients with obsessive compulsive disorder were randomly assigned to treatment with clomipramine (N = 16) or placebo (N = 16) in a 10-week double-blind study. Of the 15 patients who received at least 3 weeks of clomipramine treatment, 11 (73%) improved, 5 (33%) improved by more than 50%, and none worsened. Only 2 (12.5%) of the 16 placebo-treated patients improved, 1 (6%) by more than 50%; two (13%) worsened. Clomipramine treatment was associated with statistically significant improvement on several measures of obsessive compulsive symptoms. Side effects were more frequent and severe with clomipramine than with placebo. Although most patients tolerated clomipramine well, 3 discontinued treatment because of side effects.