title: Memantine augmentation for refractory obsessive-compulsive disorder.
abstract: Glutamatergic hyperactivity hypothesis in obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) has been proposed but not tested. Memantine is an uncompetitive N-methyl-d-aspartate (NMDA) receptor antagonist. We report two cases of refractory obsessive-compulsive disorder treated with an augmentation of memantine at 15 mg/day. The first case did not benefit from such treatment, while the second showed immediate and substantial improvement. Contrasting results, reflecting different subtypes of OCD, are discussed. We hypothesized that in certain OCD subtypes an agent that enhances memory for actions may promote a reduction in orbitofrontal activation.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatric Science and Psychological Medicine, University La Sapienza of Rome, Italy. maxpasquini@tiscalinet.it
authors.forename: Massimo
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Pasquini
authors.forename: Massimo
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Biondi
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D004351:Drug Resistance; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination; D018691:Excitatory Amino Acid Antagonists / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008559:Memantine / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D008875:Middle Aged; D009771:Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000523:psychology; D011569:Psychiatric Status Rating Scales; D017367:Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors / Q000627:therapeutic use
chemical_list: D018691:Excitatory Amino Acid Antagonists; D008559:Memantine; D017367:Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors