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Drug Treatment of Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder

  • Practical Therapeutics
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Summary

Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) is an uncommon but difficult to manage problem. Behaviour therapy is the treatment of choice, with clomipramine as an adjunct in patients with coexisting depression. However, the incidence of side effects with the doses required (up to 200mg daily, or occasionally higher) is high, and the side effects may be intolerable to some patients. Benzodiazepines have no effect on the core symptoms of OCD, and their usefulness as long term anxiolytics is outweighed by the risks of physical and psychological dependence. There is no place for antipsychotic drugs in managing obsessive-compulsive disorder.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Institute of Psychiatry, and Bethlem Royal and Maudsley Hospitals, Denmark Hill, London SE5, England

    P. T. Lelliott (Hon. Senior Registrar) & W. O. Monteiro

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  1. P. T. Lelliott
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  2. W. O. Monteiro
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Lelliott, P.T., Monteiro, W.O. Drug Treatment of Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder. Drugs 31, 75–80 (1986). https://doi.org/10.2165/00003495-198631010-00006

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.2165/00003495-198631010-00006

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