Pharmacological treatment for OCD

The pharmacological management of OCD is based in the serotonin reuptake in hibitors (SRI), which are effective and safe. The SRI are as effective as c lorimipramine, produce less collateral effects, are well tolerated and prod uce more attachment. Their antiobsessive efficacy is independent of their a ntidepressive actions. It has been suggested that high scores in compulsion s predict a poor answer to treatment. For resistant, refractory or comorbid ity cases, a combination of defferent SRSI, benzodiazepins or boosters, suc h as litio or antipysychotics, like risperidona or haloperidol have been us ed with relative success. The use of litio is controversial, yet it seems t o be useful as a boosters in 15 to 30% of the patients. The combination of SIRS with antipsychotics was first used in patients with OCD and psychotic symptoms, although they are now used in resistant patients. The pharmacolog ical treatment of OCD children is based in the use of SRSI. It is safe, eff icient and well tolerated in this group of age. We describe the pharmacological features and the clinical answer of the med ications used in OCD.