Blonanserin Augmentation for Treatment-Resistant Somatic Symptom Disorder: A Case Series

The augmentation of selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors with antipsychotics that have a high dopamine-receptor-D2 affinity may be effective in treatment-resistant obsessive-compulsive disorder and somatic symptom disorder, which is similar to illness anxiety disorder. Blonanserin, a novel antipsychotic developed in Japan, has a high affinity for the D2 receptor and weak or very little affinity for other receptors. This article presents two case studies that demonstrate the efficacy of blonanserin augmentation for treatment-resistant somatic symptom disorder. Two patients with treatment-resistant somatic symptom disorder were prescribed concomitant use of blonanserin. Augmentation with blonanserin resulted in the remarkable amelioration of all symptoms. Sedative adverse drug reactions produced by aripiprazole were improved after replacing it with blonanserin. Blonanserin is effective in treatment-resistant somatic symptom disorder. Furthermore, compared with aripiprazole, blonanserin is more likely to result in medication adherence in patients with somatic symptom disorder because it reduced adverse drug reactions.