A double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled trial of quetiapine addition in patients with obsessive-compulsive disorder refractory to serotonin reuptake inhibitors.
BACKGROUND
Although serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SRIs) are the most effective pharmacologic treatment currently available for patients with obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), 40% to 60% of patients do not respond to this treatment. This study was conducted to evaluate the efficacy and tolerability of quetiapine in addition to an SRI for treatment-refractory patients with OCD.


METHODS
Forty patients (10 men/30 women, mean +/- SD age = 35.2 +/- 12.1 years; range, 18-60 years) with primary OCD according to DSM-IV criteria who were recruited between February 2001 and December 2002 were randomly assigned in an 8-week, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial to receive dosages titrated upward to 300 mg/day of quetiapine (N = 20) or placebo (N = 20) in addition to their SRI treatment. At entry, all patients were unresponsive to courses of treatment with at least 2 different SRIs at a maximum tolerated dose for 8 weeks. During the study, primary efficacy was assessed according to change from baseline on the Yale-Brown Obsessive Compulsive Scale (Y-BOCS). A responder was defined as having a final Clinical Global Impressions-Improvement scale rating of "very much improved" or "much improved" and a decrease of > or = 35% in Y-BOCS score.


RESULTS
An intent-to-treat, last-observation-carried-forward analysis demonstrated a mean +/- SD decrease in Y-BOCS score of 9.0 +/- 7.0 (31%) in the quetiapine group and 1.8 +/- 3.4 (7%) in the placebo group (F=16.99, df=1,38; p <.001). Eight (40%) of 20 patients in the quetiapine group and 2 (10%) of 20 patients in the placebo group were responders (chi2=4.8, df=1, p=.028). The most common side effects in the quetiapine group were somnolence, dry mouth, weight gain, and dizziness.


CONCLUSIONS
The results of this study show that quetiapine in addition to an SRI is beneficial for patients with OCD who do not respond to SRI treatment alone.
Rudolf Magnus Institute of Neuroscience, Department of Psychiatry, University Medical Center Utrecht, Utrecht, the Netherlands. D.A.J.P.denys@azu.nl
Damiaan
D
Denys
Femke
F
de Geus
Harold J G M
HJ
van Megen
Herman G M
HG
Westenberg
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000553:Ambulatory Care; D014150:Antipsychotic Agents / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D039721:Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders; D003987:Dibenzothiazepines / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D004244:Dizziness / Q000139:chemically induced; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009771:Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000523:psychology; D010919:Placebos; D011569:Psychiatric Status Rating Scales; D000069348:Quetiapine Fumarate; D017367:Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D012890:Sleep / Q000187:drug effects; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014987:Xerostomia / Q000139:chemically induced
D014150:Antipsychotic Agents; D003987:Dibenzothiazepines; D010919:Placebos; D000069348:Quetiapine Fumarate; D017367:Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors