Anti-androgenic treatment of obsessive-compulsive disorder: an open-label clinical trial of the long-acting gonadotropin-releasing hormone analogue triptorelin.
Some case reports have shown that patients suffering from obsessive-compulsive disorder can be effectively treated with anti-androgenic pharmacological agents with various modes of action. The most effective group of such agents is the long-acting analogues of the gonadotropin-releasing hormone. This investigation was undertaken in order to further elucidate the possibility of using such powerful anti-androgenic agents in the treatment of obsessive-compulsive disorder. Six male patients, all suffering from therapy-resistant obsessive-compulsive disorder, were included in a 48 weeks open-label trial of the long-acting GnRH-analogue triptorelin. Every other week, the patients rated the severity of obsessive-compulsive disorder symptoms by means of a visual analogue scale. During the course of the trial, five out of six patients experienced a considerable improvement. The finding gives further support to the contention that anti-androgenic agents are effective in the treatment of obsessive-compulsive disorder.
Eriksson
Tomas
T
The Biological Psychiatry Research Group, Department of Clinical Sciences, Malmö, Lund University, MAS University Hospital, Malmö, Sweden. tomas.eriksson@med.lu.se
D000328:Adult; D000726:Androgen Antagonists / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D014150:Antipsychotic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D007987:Gonadotropin-Releasing Hormone / Q000031:analogs & derivatives / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D006801:Humans; D007986:Luteinizing Hormone / Q000097:blood; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009771:Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder / Q000097:blood / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000523:psychology; D011569:Psychiatric Status Rating Scales; D013997:Time Factors; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D017329:Triptorelin Pamoate / Q000627:therapeutic use*
D000726:Androgen Antagonists; D014150:Antipsychotic Agents; D017329:Triptorelin Pamoate; D007987:Gonadotropin-Releasing Hormone; D007986:Luteinizing Hormone