An open study of fluvoxamine augmentation of neuroleptics in schizophreniawith obsessive and compulsive symptoms

Patients whose schizophrenia is characterized by marked obsessive-compulsiv e features can be difficult to treat successfully and often require a combi nation treatment. The aim of this open-label study was to evaluate the effi cacy and tolerability of an addition of fluvoxamine-a selective serotonin r euptake inhibitor (SSRI)-to standard neuroleptics in treatment of obsessive -compulsive (OC) symptomatology in patients with schizophrenia. Sixteen pat ients with schizophrenia were treated with conventional neuroleptics and fl uvoxamine in doses of 100-200 mg/d for 8 weeks. The patients were assessed with use of the Brief Psychiatric Rating Scale (BPRS) and the Yale Brown Ob sessive-Compulsive Scale (YBOCS) at baseline and endpoint. Results included considerable reduction in BPRS (39.4%) and Y-BOCS (32.9%) scores. None of the patients showed an acute exacerbation during the whole study period. Si de effects were clinically insignificant. This open-label trial supports pr evious suggestions that coadministration of SSRIs and neuroleptics in patie nts with schizophrenia with OC symptoms is associated with robust improveme nts of these symptoms. Therefore, the use of SSRIs in patients with schizop hrenia with OC symptomatology may be warranted and safe.