A double-blind, placebo-controlled trial of clonazepam
in obsessive-compulsive disorder
by
Hollander E, Kaplan A, Stahl SM.
Eric Hollander M.D., Department, of Psychiatry,
Box 1230, Mount Sinai School of Medicine,
One Gustave L. Levy Place, New York, USA.
eric.hollander@mssm.edu
World J Biol Psychiatry 2003 Jan;4(1):30-4

ABSTRACT

Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) are currently the first-line pharmacological agents in treating obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD). Appropriate treatment for OCD also involves cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT), including exposure and response prevention. As there is a time delay in seeing full therapeutic response, and not all patients tolerate SSRIs, there remains an unmet need for additional treatment approaches in OCD. In addition, most responders report only a partial reduction in symptoms. Clonazepam has demonstrated effectiveness in several preliminary reports in treating OCD. Twenty-seven patients with OCD were entered into a 10 week, double-blind, parallel design trial of clonazepam vs. placebo. Overall, only 3 out of 25 patients who had >/= 1 rating on clonazepam/placebo were judged to be treatment responders, by scoring a 1 (very much improved) or 2 (much improved) on the CGI improvement scale. Responders included 2 of 9 in the placebo group and 1 of 16 in the clonazepam group. No significant difference was found between clonazepam and placebo groups on responder/non responder status (Chi(2 )=1.39, df =1,24, p=0.238), nor on change in YBOCS, Ham-A, Ham-D or NIMH scales from beginning to last evaluation carried forward. These findings suggest that clonazepam is not effective as monotherapy in treating OCD. Its effectiveness in specific subgroups of OCD patients with co-morbid anxiety disorders or as an augmentation strategy added to SSRIs remains to be determined.

OCD
SSRIs
Buspirone
Alprazolam
Temazepam
Benzo choices
Benzodiazepines
Future anxiolytics
Opiates to treat OCD
Clonazepam (Klonopin) : structure
Clonazepam (Klonopin) for LSD-induced HPPD
Clonazepam (Klonopin) plus fluoxetine (Prozac)
Clonazepam (Klonopin) treatment of social phobia
Clonazepam (Klonopin) as an adjunctive treatment for depression

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