Study finds vortioxetine effective for treatment-resistant OCD

A recent multicenter retrospective study has evaluated the effectiveness of vortioxetine monotherapy for patients with obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) who did not respond to selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs). The study, involving 64 adult patients diagnosed with OCD according to DSM-5 criteria, aimed to address the clinical challenge posed by treatment-resistant OCD.

Patients included in the analysis had previously undergone at least one adequate SSRI treatment without achieving sufficient symptom relief. Vortioxetine, an antidepressant known for its multimodal action, was administered at a minimum dose of 20 mg per day for a duration of at least eight weeks.

The primary measure of treatment response was the reduction in the Yale-Brown Obsessive Compulsive Scale (Y-BOCS) score, a standard tool for assessing OCD severity. Secondary outcomes involved changes in the Hamilton Depression Rating Scale (HAM-D) and the Hamilton Anxiety Rating Scale (HAM-A), along with the occurrence of any adverse effects.

Results indicated that 39.1% of participants met the responder criteria, defined as a minimum 25% decrease in total Y-BOCS score after eight weeks of treatment. On average, the Y-BOCS score dropped from 27.1 to 20.7, demonstrating a statistically significant improvement (p < 0.001). Additionally, both HAM-D and HAM-A scores showed notable reductions; HAM-D scores decreased from an average of 21.0 to 12.6, and HAM-A scores fell from 26.9 to 16.1, with both changes also statistically significant (p < 0.001).

Vortioxetine was generally well tolerated among participants. The most frequently reported side effects included nausea, experienced by 29.7% of patients, and sedation, reported by 18.8%. Importantly, there were no serious adverse events recorded during the study period.

These findings suggest that vortioxetine may offer a beneficial treatment option for individuals with OCD who do not respond to traditional SSRIs. The study highlights the need for further prospective controlled trials to validate these results and to explore the full therapeutic potential of vortioxetine in managing OCD.

This research underscores the ongoing challenges faced in treating OCD and the importance of exploring alternative treatment options for patients who struggle with standard therapies.