title: Obsessive-compulsive disorder. How to free patients from intrusive thoughts and rituals.
abstract: The antidepressants clomipramine hydrochloride (Anafranil), fluoxetine hydrochloride (Prozac), and sertraline hydrochloride (Zoloft) are the main choices for pharmacologic treatment of obsessive-compulsive disorder. Often, drug doses for obsessive-compulsive disorder are higher than for depression, and improvement occurs more slowly and is often only partial. Behavior therapy involving exposure to feared objects or situations and prevention of ritualistic behavior complements pharmacologic treatment. Referral to a behavioral therapist may be necessary to achieve recovery.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, University of Louisville School of Medicine.
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Pary
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Lippmann
authors.forename: C R
authors.initials: CR
authors.lastname: Tobias
mesh_terms: D000928:Antidepressive Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001521:Behavior Therapy; D006801:Humans; D009771:Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder / Q000523:psychology / Q000628:therapy*
chemical_list: D000928:Antidepressive Agents