title: Circadian rhythms in obsessive-compulsive disorder.
abstract: The etiopathology and neurobiology of obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) are not fully understood. As for altered circadian rhythms associated with OCD, hormonal dysregulation and a delayed sleep phase have come into the focus of research. The novel antidepressant agomelatine is able to resynchronize circadian rhythms and the augmentative administration of this compound has been shown to be of benefit in some OCD patients who are refractory to common forms of pharmacotherapy. Adjunctive chronotherapy might also enhance the outcome in treatment-refractory OCD. The present review summarises the findings regarding circadian abnormalities in OCD.
authors.affiliation: Department of Experimental Psychology, University of Regensburg, 93040 Regensburg, Germany. klaus.lange@psychologie.uni-regensburg.de
authors.forename: Klaus W
authors.initials: KW
authors.lastname: Lange
authors.forename: Katharina M
authors.initials: KM
authors.lastname: Lange
authors.forename: Joachim
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Hauser
authors.forename: Lara
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Tucha
authors.forename: Oliver
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Tucha
mesh_terms: D000081:Acetamides / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000818:Animals; D021081:Chronobiology Disorders / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000209:etiology* / Q000378:metabolism; D006728:Hormones / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D006993:Hypnotics and Sedatives / Q000627:therapeutic use; D009771:Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder / Q000150:complications* / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000378:metabolism; D012893:Sleep Wake Disorders / Q000209:etiology; D009281:Naphthalenes
chemical_list: D000081:Acetamides; D006728:Hormones; D006993:Hypnotics and Sedatives; C084711:agomelatine; D009281:Naphthalenes