BACKGROUND: Clozapine differs from other currently available antipsychotics in its prominent serotonin blockade. We explore the relationship between clozapine and obsessive compulsive symptoms, which have been linked to deficient serotonin. METHOD: We reviewed our experience in treating 49 chronic schizophrenic patients with clozapine. RESULTS: Five patients were identified who experienced either de novo obsessive compulsive symptoms or exacerbation of preexistent symptoms. Clinical details are provided for each case. CONCLUSION: Clozapine may produce or unmask obsessive compulsive symptoms. This may reflect a variation on the normal course of clinical improvement, or may more specifically result from clozapine's atypical pattern of CNS receptor antagonism. Further attention to this issue is warranted.
BACKGROUND:Clozapine differs from other currently available antipsychotics in its prominent serotonin blockade. We explore the relationship between clozapine and obsessive compulsive symptoms, which have been linked to deficient serotonin. METHOD: We reviewed our experience in treating 49 chronic schizophrenicpatients with clozapine. RESULTS: Five patients were identified who experienced either de novo obsessive compulsive symptoms or exacerbation of preexistent symptoms. Clinical details are provided for each case. CONCLUSION:Clozapine may produce or unmask obsessive compulsive symptoms. This may reflect a variation on the normal course of clinical improvement, or may more specifically result from clozapine's atypical pattern of CNS receptor antagonism. Further attention to this issue is warranted.
Authors: Susanne Walitza; André Scherag; Tobias J Renner; Anke Hinney; Helmut Remschmidt; Beate Herpertz-Dahlmann; Eberhard Schulz; Helmut Schafer; Klaus W Lange; Christoph Wewetzer; Manfred Gerlach Journal: J Neural Transm (Vienna) Date: 2008-04-30 Impact factor: 3.575