title: An open-label trial of memantine in treatment-resistant obsessive-compulsive disorder.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) is often refractory to treatment. Glutamatergic neurotransmission modulating agents like memantine, an N-methyl-D-aspartate receptor open channel blocker (antagonist), has been reported to be beneficial in OCD.
  
  
  METHODS
  Twelve subjects of OCD who had been on various medications for over 5 years, but were poor responders, were enrolled for a 12-week open-label trial with fixed dose trial of memantine as an augmenting agent. The OCD symptoms and adverse effects of the drug were monitored.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Out of 12 subjects, eight had clear benefit, with reduction of 25% or more on Yale-Brown Obsessive-Compulsive Scale, and there were no side-effects with the medication.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Memantine may be beneficial for treatment-resistant OCD as an augmenting agent.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry, Kanke, Ranchi, Jharkhand, India.
authors.forename: Ajay Kumar
authors.initials: AK
authors.lastname: Bakhla
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry, Kanke, Ranchi, Jharkhand, India.
authors.forename: Vijay
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Verma
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry, Ranchi Institute of Neuropsychiatry and Allied Sciences, Kanke, Ranchi, Jharkhand, India.
authors.forename: Subhas
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Soren
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry, Institute of Psychiatry, Kolkata, West Bengal, India.
authors.forename: Sujit
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Sarkhel
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry, Pravara Institute of Medical Sciences (Deemed University), Rural Medical College, Loni, Maharashtra, India.
authors.forename: Suprakash
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Chaudhury
keywords: Glutamatergic modulation; memantine; obsessive compulsive disorder