Aripiprazole as an adjunctive treatment for refractory Obsessive-compulsive disorder

ObjectiveTo explore the therapeutic effects and tolerance of aripiprazole as augmentation treatment in the patients with refractory obsessive-compulsive disorder ( ROCD) . Methods31 patients with the ROCD were treated with aripiprazole based upon preceding SSRI antidepressants . It's beginning dosage was 5mg/d and gradually increased , and top dosage was 20mg/d for 8 weeks. Assessments included the Yale-Brown Obsessive Compulsive Scale ( YBOCS) , Hamilton Rating Scale for Anxiety ( HAMA) , Global Assessment Scale ( GAS) and Treatment Emergent Symptoms Scale ( TESS) before treatment and at the end of the 4th and 8th week of the study , respectively. ResultsAt the end of the 8th week of the study , the total scores of the YBOCS( 12.00 ±5.32) , HAMA(13.75±3.27)and GAS(48.75±11.73) had significant difference compared with pretreatmen(as follows:29.80±5.44,23.50±3.61,26.95±10.61) ( P 0.01) ;According to the score-reducing rate of the YBOCS : recovery rate was 16%, effective rate 48 % and ineffective rate 36 %; side effects were milder and tolerable. ConclusionSmall dose aripiprazole as synergist of SSRI antidepressants in the treatment of patients with refractory obsessive-compulsive disorder has promising prospect.