Treatment strategies for obsessive-compulsive disorder.

Abstract

IMPORTANCE OF THE FIELD:

In the last decades, the treatment of obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) has improved significantly with the introduction into the clinical practice of the selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs): this has led to a renewed interest in this condition and development of appropriate therapeutic strategies, including non-pharmacological techniques.

AREAS COVERED IN THIS REVIEW:

The aim of this paper is to present a comprehensive and critical review of pharmacological and non-pharmacological treatments usually adopted in the management of OCD. MEDLINE and PubMed (1980 - 2009) databases were searched for English-language articles by using the following keywords: OCD, clomipramine, SSRIs, resistance, predictor of response, cognitive-behavioral therapy, exposure and response prevention, repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation, deep brain stimulation, neurosurgery, electroconvulsive therapy.

WHAT THE READER WILL GAIN:

The reader will gain an exhaustive review of the advantages and disadvantages of the treatments usually adopted in OCD, with a special focus on resistance and clinical features that can be used as predictors of response.

TAKE HOME MESSAGE:

Obsessive-compulsive disorder is a common psychiatric condition that can be adequately managed with the currently available therapeutic options. Although a certain percentage of patients do not achieve complete clinical remission, improvement of some of their core symptoms permits them to live more satisfying lives and to reach a better social adjustment.

• Authors: Donatella Marazziti, Giorgio Consoli
• Journal: Expert opinion on pharmacotherapy (Expert Opin Pharmacother) Vol. 11 Issue 3 Pg. 331-43 (Feb 2010) ISSN: 1744-7666 [Electronic] England
• PMID: 20102301 (Publication Type: Journal Article, Review)

Chemical References

• Clomipramine

Topics

• Clinical Trials as Topic
• Clomipramine (therapeutic use)
• Cognitive Behavioral Therapy
• Combined Modality Therapy
• Deep Brain Stimulation
• Dose-Response Relationship, Drug
• Drug Administration Schedule
• Electric Stimulation Therapy
• Electroconvulsive Therapy
• Electroshock
• Evidence-Based Medicine
• Humans
• Meta-Analysis as Topic
• Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (therapy)
• Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic
• Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation
• Treatment Outcome
• Vagus Nerve (radiation effects)