Effects of sertraline on kinematic aspects of hand movements in patients with obsessive-compulsive disorder.
BACKGROUND
Movement disorders such as disturbances of fine motor co-ordination are a frequent phenomenon in patients with obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD).


OBJECTIVE
Our aim was to investigate changes of hand-motor dysfunction in OCD patients under the influence of 10-week treatment with sertraline and behaviour therapy.


METHODS
We examined the performance of 40 patients satisfying DSM-IV criteria for OCD before and under this therapy using a digitising tablet and kinematic analysis of handwriting and drawing movements. Forty healthy controls were also tested (test-retest interval: 10 weeks).


RESULTS
The speed of drawing was significantly lower in OCD patients than in controls (mean+/-standard deviation=197.03+/-113.26 mm/s for patients and 182.48+/-189.61 mm/s for controls; P=0.01). After 10 weeks of therapy, this parameter normalised in patients (from 197.03+/-113.26 mm/s to 163.66+/-101.92 mm/s; P=0.001).


CONCLUSIONS
Hand-motor dysfunction (especially bradykinesia) improves with a serotonin-enhancing therapy in OCD patients.
Mergl
Roland
R
Department of Psychiatry, Laboratory of Clinical Neurophysiology, Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München, Nussbaumstrasse 7, 80336, München, Germany. Roland.Mergl@psy.med.uni-muenchen.de
Mavrogiorgou
Paraskevi
P
Juckel
Georg
G
Zaudig
Michael
M
Hegerl
Ulrich
U
D000328:Adult; D001696:Biomechanical Phenomena; D005260:Female; D006225:Hand / Q000503:physiopathology*; D006236:Handwriting; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D019957:Motor Skills Disorders / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000503:physiopathology; D009068:Movement / Q000187:drug effects*; D009069:Movement Disorders / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000503:physiopathology; D009771:Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000523:psychology; D017367:Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D020280:Sertraline / Q000627:therapeutic use*
D017367:Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors; D020280:Sertraline