Placebo-controlled study of pimozide augmentation of fluoxetine in body dysmorphic disorder.

Abstract

OBJECTIVE:

Although body dysmorphic disorder often responds to serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SRIs), most patients do not respond or respond only partially. However, placebo-controlled studies of augmentation of SRIs have not been done. Furthermore, although 40%-50% of patients are delusional, studies of antipsychotic medications have not been done.

METHOD:

Twenty-eight patients with body dysmorphic disorder or its delusional variant participated in an 8-week, placebo-controlled, double-blind, parallel-group study of pimozide augmentation of fluoxetine.

RESULTS:

Pimozide was not more effective than placebo: two (18.2%) of 11 subjects responded to pimozide and three (17.6%) of 17 subjects responded to placebo. There was no significant effect of baseline delusionality on endpoint severity of body dysmorphic disorder. Delusionality did not decrease significantly more with pimozide than placebo.

CONCLUSIONS:

Pimozide augmentation of fluoxetine treatment for body dysmorphic disorder was not more effective than placebo, even in more delusional patients. Further studies of augmentation for SRIs are needed.

• Authors: Katharine A Phillips
• Journal: The American journal of psychiatry (Am J Psychiatry) Vol. 162 Issue 2 Pg. 377-9 (Feb 2005) ISSN: 0002-953X [Print] United States
• PMID: 15677604 (Publication Type: Clinical Trial, Journal Article, Randomized Controlled Trial, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't)

Chemical References

• Antipsychotic Agents
• Placebos
• Serotonin Uptake Inhibitors
• Fluoxetine
• Pimozide

Topics

• Adult
• Antipsychotic Agents (therapeutic use)
• Delusions (drug therapy, psychology)
• Double-Blind Method
• Drug Therapy, Combination
• Female
• Fluoxetine (therapeutic use)
• Humans
• Male
• Pimozide (therapeutic use)
• Placebos
• Psychiatric Status Rating Scales
• Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors (therapeutic use)
• Somatoform Disorders (diagnosis, drug therapy, psychology)
• Treatment Outcome