ADDITION OF DESIPRAMINE TO SEROTONIN REUPTAKE INHIBITORS IN TREATMENT-RESISTANT OBSESSIVE-COMPULSIVE DISORDER

Objective: The purpose of this study was to determine whether combined treatment with a selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI) and a norepinephrine reuptake inhibitor, desipramine, effectively reduces ob sessive-compulsive symptoms in patients who do not respond to SSRIs. M ethod: In a double-blind study, desipramine or placebo was added for 6 or 10 weeks to the treatment of 30 patients with obsessive-compulsive disorder whose symptoms were refractory to SSRI treatment (fluvoxamin e, fluoxetine, or sertraline) alone. Results: There were no significan t differences between the adjunctive desipramine and placebo groups in obsessive-compulsive or depressive symptoms. Conclusions: These data suggest that clomipramine's possibly superior efficacy in the treatmen t of obsessive-compulsive symptoms may not stem from its capacity to i nhibit reuptake of norepinephrine.