New drug for obsessive-compulsive disorder

Reported by Susan Aldridge, PhD, medical journalist

A medication that treats the symptoms of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis has also been found useful for helping those with obsessive-compulsive disorder.
The symptoms of obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) include obsessive checking, cleaning, counting, hoarding and other distressing behaviors. Although it can be treated by drugs, including antidepressants, and cognitive behavior therapy, some patients fail to respond.

A team at Yale OCD Clinic, New York, now report on the use of the drug riluzole in 13 patients who had not responded to other treatment. Riluzole is used to treat amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, also known as Lou Gehrig's disease. Seven of the patients experienced a 35 per cent reduction in their OCD symptoms and five were said to have responded at least somewhat to the treatment. This was just a small trial, but the results are promising and, hopefully, can be repeated in a bigger study.

Source
Obsessive Compulsive Foundation conference 29th July 2005

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