IS THERE A RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN CLOZAPINE AND OBSESSIVE-COMPULSIVE DISORDER - A RETROSPECTIVE CHART REVIEW

The emergence of obsessive-compulsive symptoms during clozapine treatm ent has been reported in recent case studies, yet the incidence and si gnificance of this finding is still unclear pending reliable data from a larger sample of patients. Hospital records of 142 randomly selecte d inpatients started on clozapine treatment at McLean Hospital before July 1, 1992, were reviewed retrospectively. Based on a limited retros pective chart review, there were no definitive cases of patients who d eveloped obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) or whose OCD worsened as a result of clozapine treatment. Although some fluctuation of OCD symp toms may have occurred in two cases, it is unclear whether those sympt oms were related to treatment with clozapine (or other psychotropic dr ugs) or to undulations in the natural history of OCD, No definitive re lationship between OCD symptoms and clozapine treatment could be estab lished in this limited study. Further clarification of this matter awa its outcome research using prospective methodologies.