THE PLATELET BENZODIAZEPINE RECEPTOR IS UNALTERED IN OBSESSIVE-COMPULSIVE DISORDER

Mitochondrial benzodiazepine receptors (MBR) are sensitive to anxiety and stress. The aim of the present study was to investigate whether pl atelet MBR are altered in untreated obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD ) patients and whether chronic treatment with clomipramine (CMI) regul ates these receptors. MBR were assessed in 13 drug-free OCD patients a s compared with 15 healthy controls. Seven of the 13 patients were tre ated with CMI (200-300 mg/day). The density and affinity of the recept ors to their ligand [H-3]PK 11195 in OCD patients and controls were no t affected by the CMI treatment despite the clinical improvement. It s eems that, in contrast to generalized anxiety disorder, OCD is not ass ociated with alterations in platelet benzodiazepine receptors.