Addition of desipramine to serotonin reuptake inhibitors in treatment-resistant obsessive-compulsive disorder.
OBJECTIVE
The purpose of this study was to determine whether combined treatment with a selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI) and a norepinephrine reuptake inhibitor, desipramine, effectively reduces obsessive-compulsive symptoms in patients who do not respond to SSRIs.


METHODS
In a double-blind study, desipramine or placebo was added for 6 or 10 weeks to the treatment of 30 patients with obsessive-compulsive disorder whose symptoms were refractory to SSRI treatment (fluvoxamine, fluoxetine, or sertraline) alone.


RESULTS
There were no significant differences between the adjunctive desipramine and placebo groups in obsessive-compulsive or depressive symptoms.


CONCLUSIONS
These data suggest that clomipramine's possibly superior efficacy in the treatment of obsessive-compulsive symptoms may not stem from its capacity to inhibit reuptake of norepinephrine.
Barr
L C
LC
Clinical Neuroscience Research Unit, Abraham Ribicoff Research Facilities, Connecticut Mental Health Center, New Haven, USA.
Goodman
W K
WK
Anand
A
A
McDougle
C J
CJ
Price
L H
LH
D015057:1-Naphthylamine / Q000031:analogs & derivatives / Q000627:therapeutic use; D018759:Adrenergic Uptake Inhibitors / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000328:Adult; D002997:Clomipramine / Q000627:therapeutic use; D003891:Desipramine / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination; D005260:Female; D005473:Fluoxetine / Q000627:therapeutic use; D016666:Fluvoxamine / Q000627:therapeutic use; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009771:Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000523:psychology; D010919:Placebos; D017367:Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D020280:Sertraline; D016896:Treatment Outcome
D015057:1-Naphthylamine; D018759:Adrenergic Uptake Inhibitors; D002997:Clomipramine; D003891:Desipramine; D005473:Fluoxetine; D016666:Fluvoxamine; D010919:Placebos; D017367:Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors; D020280:Sertraline