Effectiveness of fluoxetine on various subtypes of obsessive-compulsive disorder.
BACKGROUND
Obsessive-compulsive disorder typically begins early in life and has a chronic course. Despite the need for long-term treatment, the information about therapeutic effect on different clinical subtypes is limited.


METHODS
Consecutive outpatients with obsessive-compulsive disorder were evaluated for response to a two-month fluoxetine therapy course by Yale-Brown obsessive-compulsive scale according to the clinical subtype of the disease.


RESULTS
Of 265 patients, fluoxetine significantly decreased the symptoms in general. The mean Yale-Brown obsessive- compulsive scale in washers and patients with obsessive thoughts was significantly decreased after the intervention. The decrease in Yale-Brown obsessive- compulsive scale in checkers was not statistically significance.


CONCLUSIONS
Fluoxetine has sustained efficacy on patients with obsessive-compulsive disorder and is generally well tolerated. Fluoxetine has greater efficacy on washers and on obsessive thoughts than checkers.
Farnam
Alireza
A
Department of Psychiatry, Razi Hospital, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran. alirezafarnam@yahoo.com
Goreishizadeh
Mohammad-Ali
MA
Farhang
Sara
S