Emerging skin-picking behaviour after serotonin reuptake inhibitor-treatment in patients with obsessive-compulsive disorder: possible mechanisms and implications for clinical care.
Pathological skin-picking is a self-injurious, impulsive behaviour with repetitive, and ritualistic characteristics. A number of studies show that selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) may be efficacious in reducing skin-picking behaviour. Two case reports are presented demonstrating that SSRI-treatment may induce or aggravate pathological skin-picking behaviour. Possible mechanisms of SSRI-induced pathological skin-picking and implications for clinical care are discussed.
Denys
Damiaan
D
Department of Psychiatry, University Medical Centre, Utrecht, The Netherlands. d.a.j.p.denys@azu.nl
van Megen
Harold J G M
HJ
Westenberg
Herman G M
HG
D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D016666:Fluvoxamine / Q000009:adverse effects*; D006801:Humans; D009771:Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder / Q000188:drug therapy*; D017374:Paroxetine / Q000009:adverse effects*; D016728:Self-Injurious Behavior / Q000139:chemically induced*; D017367:Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors / Q000009:adverse effects*; D012867:Skin / Q000293:injuries*
D016666:Fluvoxamine; D017374:Paroxetine; D017367:Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors