Aripiprazole Addition to Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitor in Treatment-Resistant Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder

Title:Aripiprazole Addition to Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitor in Treatment-Resistant Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder

Volume: 3

Author(s): Saeed Shoja Shafti

Affiliation:

Keywords: Antipsychotic, aripiprazole, obsessive-compulsive disorder, treatment resistant.

Abstract: Background: As is well-known, serotonin-reuptake inhibitors (SRIs) are unsuccessful in management of forty to sixty percent of patients suffering from obsessivecompulsive disorder (OCD). So, purpose of the present trial was to assess that whether addon aripiprazole, as adjunctive to SRIs, is helpful in cases with treatment-resistant OCD.

Method: In an Open-prospective, single-arm interventional study with blinded rating, sixteen patients with OCD, who had not improved noticeably by serotonin-reuptake inhibitors, after maximum dosage and period, were allocated to get aripiprazole plus their SRIs for eight weeks. Management outcome was measured by means of the Yale-Brown Obsessive Compulsive Scale (YBOCS). Complete reaction to the abovementioned augmentative therapy was demarcated of at least fifty percent reduction in YBOCS’ score and partial reaction as equivalent to or >25% - <50% reduction in YBOCS in comparison with the starting point.

Results: Neither of patients responded with at least 25% decrease in YBOCS score to the aripiprazole addition (20 mg/day). 18% of cases experienced a reduction between 10-20%, and 68% of them less than 10%. Two patients did not show any change at all. The mean+/-SD baseline YBOCS’ score of 35.2 +/- 2.9 dropped to a mean of 32.8 +/- 4.1 at endpoint with a mean reduction of 8.8+/- 7.8% (p<0.06).

Conclusion: Within the limits of statistical power, this assessment does not offer additional proof that adding of aripiprazole to current SRI treatment could be worthwhile for cases suffering from treatment-resistant OCD.

Cite this article as:

Shoja Shafti Saeed, Aripiprazole Addition to Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitor in Treatment-Resistant Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder, Current Psychopharmacology 2014; 3 (3) . https://dx.doi.org/10.2174/221155600303150629162749