Efficacy of fluoxetine in Austrian patients with obsessive-compulsive disorder

In an 8-week double-blind placebo-controlled trial we studied the efficacy of fluoxetine (FLX) in 53 Austrian patients with obsessive compulsive disor der (OCD) diagnosed according to DSM-III-R. The dosage of FLX was fixed at either 20, 40, or 60 mg per day. Response was prospectively defined as an at least 25% reduction on the Yale -Brown Obsessive Compulsive Scale (Y-BOCS) and an improvement on Clinical G lobal Impression (CGI) rating to at least "much improved" at the endpoint. Patients treated with at least 40 mg FLX per day showed significantly highe r response rates than did those receiving either placebo or FLX 20 mg/day. Compulsions were more reduced than obsessions and we also observed a strong placebo effect which is largely attributable to an improvement in the Y-BO CS compulsion subscore.