Skip to main content Accessibility help
×
Hostname: page-component-586b7cd67f-tf8b9 Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-11-26T09:10:59.202Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false

8 - Evidence-based pharmacotherapy of obsessive–compulsive disorder

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  05 August 2012

Dan Stein
Affiliation:
University of Cape Town
Bernard Lerer
Affiliation:
Hadassah-Hebrew Medical Centre
Stephen M. Stahl
Affiliation:
University of California, San Diego
Get access

Summary

Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) responds preferentially to drugs which powerfully inhibit the reuptake of serotonin at the synapse, that is, clomipramine and the selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs). OCD is a lifespan disorder, and effective treatment early on may prevent the problems of long-term chronicity. This chapter includes an analysis of the limited studies that have been conducted in children with OCD. There were few treatment-refractory cases and most had long histories of stable, severe, untreated illness. In addition to clomipramine's powerful serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SRI) activity, its active metabolite has strong noradrenergic properties. Treatment-resistant OCD is now receiving systematic evaluation. Evidence-based options include continuing the SSRI at maximal dose levels for a longer period, increasing the dose beyond formulary limits, or augmenting the SSRI with a first- or second-generation antipsychotic, while novel treatments such as compounds acting on serotonin or glutamate neurotransmission are under evaluation.
Type
Chapter
Information
Publisher: Cambridge University Press
Print publication year: 2012

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

Save book to Kindle

To save this book to your Kindle, first ensure [email protected] is added to your Approved Personal Document E-mail List under your Personal Document Settings on the Manage Your Content and Devices page of your Amazon account. Then enter the ‘name’ part of your Kindle email address below. Find out more about saving to your Kindle.

Note you can select to save to either the @free.kindle.com or @kindle.com variations. ‘@free.kindle.com’ emails are free but can only be saved to your device when it is connected to wi-fi. ‘@kindle.com’ emails can be delivered even when you are not connected to wi-fi, but note that service fees apply.

Find out more about the Kindle Personal Document Service.

Available formats
×

Save book to Dropbox

To save content items to your account, please confirm that you agree to abide by our usage policies. If this is the first time you use this feature, you will be asked to authorise Cambridge Core to connect with your account. Find out more about saving content to Dropbox.

Available formats
×

Save book to Google Drive

To save content items to your account, please confirm that you agree to abide by our usage policies. If this is the first time you use this feature, you will be asked to authorise Cambridge Core to connect with your account. Find out more about saving content to Google Drive.

Available formats
×