Drug therapy and cerebral perfusion in obsessive-compulsive disorder.
Cerebral perfusion in a previously untreated patient with obsessive-compulsive disorder was studied qualitatively and semi-quantitatively with SPECT before, and during and 6 wk after treatment with clomipramine. The patient's symptoms disappeared while on medication and relapsed after drug withdrawal. At baseline, there was an increased perfusion ratio in the bilateral orbitofrontal, anterior cingular, frontotemporal and right caudate regions. These alterations disappeared during drug therapy. After treatment discontinuation and symptomatic relapse, the same pattern of hyperactivity was found. Semiquantitative measurements after treatment withdrawal showed a return to perfusion values similar to those observed before treatment in subcortical structures. In cortical areas, this level was not completely achieved. Subtraction SPECT images showed perfusion changes at the orbitofrontal, caudate and thalamic levels.
Department of Psychiatry, San Juan de Dios Hospital, Ciempozuelos, Madrid, Spain.
V
V
Molina
R
R
Montz
M
M
Martín-Loeches
A
A
Jiménez-Vicioso
J L
JL
Carreras
F J
FJ
Rubia
D000328:Adult; D001921:Brain / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D002560:Cerebrovascular Circulation / Q000502:physiology*; D002997:Clomipramine / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D009771:Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000503:physiopathology; D015609:Organotechnetium Compounds; D010091:Oximes; D017367:Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D019690:Technetium Tc 99m Exametazime; D015899:Tomography, Emission-Computed, Single-Photon
D002997:Clomipramine; D015609:Organotechnetium Compounds; D010091:Oximes; D017367:Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors; D019690:Technetium Tc 99m Exametazime