title: Amitriptyline therapy of obsessive-compulsive neurosis.
abstract: Substantial improvement in 2 patients with obsessive-compulsive neurosis resulted from the administration of amitriptyline. No other pharmacologic or psychologic intervention had previously been effective in these patients. This tricyclic antidepressant has a pharmacologic spectrum of action very similar to chlorimipramine. Both drugs cause significant impairment in serotonin (5-hydroxytryptamine) reuptake. Evidence for a relative deficit in the central availability of 5-hydroxytryptamine (5-HT) in obsessive-compulsive phenomena is presented and a rationale for the use of these agents evolves.
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000639:Amitriptyline / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001921:Brain / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D002997:Clomipramine / Q000627:therapeutic use; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D009771:Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder / Q000188:drug therapy*; D012701:Serotonin / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D000639:Amitriptyline; D012701:Serotonin; D002997:Clomipramine