[Response to sertraline in adolescents with obsessive-compulsive disorder]

Previous studies have revealed that serotonin reuptake inhibitors are effective for the treatment of obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD) in children and adolescents. The clinical efficacy of sertraline (STL) for eight adolescents with OCD is examined. The patients are between 12 and 17 years old, being 3 of them female and 6 male. The severity is measured with OC-NIMH Scale and self-report Leyton-20 questionnaire. Administration of STL was begun at 50-200 mg/day, with maintenance dose of 50-150 mg/day. Seven patients responded adequately to STL for more than six months; a girl, aged 16, require discontinuation of STL because of untoward effects. The improvement starts before the 8th week of treatment. Six months later improvement scores with OC-NIMH and Leyton-20 rated near the 50%. In the seven patients with STL either have no untoward effects or mild effect. Favorable results are observed either in adolescents who received STL and cognitive therapy or those with STL as main treatment without any structure psychotherapy. After 6-21 months with STL, improvement has continue of has been increased.