title: Effect of aripiprazole augmentation of serotonin reuptake inhibitors or clomipramine in treatment-resistant obsessive-compulsive disorder: a double-blind, placebo-controlled study.
abstract: Based on the evidence that aripiprazole added to serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SRIs) or clomipramine in treatment-resistant obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) has reported promising results, the present 16-week, double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled trial had the aim to explore the efficacy of aripiprazole add-on pharmacotherapy on clinical symptoms and cognitive functioning in a sample of treatment-resistant OCD patients receiving SRIs. After clinical and neurocognitive assessments, patients were randomly allocated to receive, in a double-blind design, 15 mg/d of aripiprazole or a placebo. A final sample of 30 patients completed the study. The results obtained indicate that aripiprazole added to stable SRI treatment substantially improved obsessive-compulsive symptoms as measured by changes on the Yale-Brown Obsessive Compulsive Scale total score and subscores (obsessions, P = 0.007; compulsions, P = 0.001; total score, P < 0.0001). Regarding cognitive functions, improvement was observed in some explored areas, such as attentional resistance to interference (Stroop score, P = 0.001) and executive functioning (perseverative errors, P = 0.015). The findings provide evidence that aripiprazole augmentation of SRIs/clomipramine treatment is well tolerated and may be proposed as an effective therapeutic strategy to improve outcome in treatment-resistant OCD.
authors.affiliation: Section of Psychiatry, Department of Neurosciences, Psychiatric and Anaesthesiological Sciences, University of Messina, Messina, Italy.
authors.forename: Maria Rosaria A
authors.initials: MR
authors.lastname: Muscatello
authors.forename: Antonio
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Bruno
authors.forename: Gianluca
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Pandolfo
authors.forename: Umberto
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Micò
authors.forename: Giuseppe
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Scimeca
authors.forename: Vincenzo Maria
authors.initials: VM
authors.lastname: Romeo
authors.forename: Vincenza
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Santoro
authors.forename: Salvatore
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Settineri
authors.forename: Edoardo
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Spina
authors.forename: Rocco A
authors.initials: RA
authors.lastname: Zoccali
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000068180:Aripiprazole; D002997:Clomipramine / Q000008:administration & dosage*; 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*; D010879:Piperazines / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D015363:Quinolones / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D017367:Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D000068180:Aripiprazole; D002997:Clomipramine; D010879:Piperazines; D015363:Quinolones; D017367:Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors