title: Aripiprazole augmentation in 13 patients with refractory obsessive-compulsive disorder: a case series.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The primary treatment for obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) is selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRI). However, approximately a third of patients do not respond to SSRIs and remain chronically affected.
  
  
  METHODS
  Therefore, we added aripiprazole to SSRI therapy for 13 patients with treatment-refractory OCD (subjects who failed to respond to SSRI therapy for at least 2 months, and for an average of 508 days). Participants underwent at least 7 weeks of treatment with aripiprazole augmentation.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Patients were evaluated using the Y-BOCS and GAF scales. Aripiprazole (3-12 mg)/SSRI co-therapy significantly improved Y-BOCS and GAF scores. However, many patients needed to take antiparkinsonian drugs to control extrapyramidal symptoms.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  These results suggest that aripiprazole augmentation of SSRI therapy may be effective for treatment-refractory OCD.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neuropsychiatry, Oita University Faculty of Medicine, Oita, Japan.
authors.forename: Haruka
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Higuma
authors.forename: Masayuki
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Kanehisa
authors.forename: Yoshihiro
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Maruyama
authors.forename: Yoshinobu
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Ishitobi
authors.forename: Yoshihiro
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Tanaka
authors.forename: Jusen
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Tsuru
authors.forename: Hiroaki
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Hanada
authors.forename: Kensuke
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Kodama
authors.forename: Koichi
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Isogawa
authors.forename: Jotaro
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Akiyoshi
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D014150:Antipsychotic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000068180:Aripiprazole; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009771:Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy*; D010879:Piperazines / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D011569:Psychiatric Status Rating Scales; D015363:Quinolones / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D018967:Risperidone / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D017367:Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D014150:Antipsychotic Agents; D000068180:Aripiprazole; D010879:Piperazines; D015363:Quinolones; D018967:Risperidone; D017367:Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors