Pharmacopsychiatry 2013; 46 - A25
DOI: 10.1055/s-0033-1353286

In a double-blind, randomized and placebo-controlled trial, adjuvant memantine improved symptoms in inpatients suffering from refractory obsessive-compulsive disorders (OCD)

M Haghighi 1, L Jahangard 1, H Mohammad-Beigi 2, H Bajoghli 3, H Afshar 2, E Holsboer-Trachsler 4, S Brand 4
  • 1Research Center for Behavioral Disorders and Substances Abuse
  • 2 Hamadan University of Medical Sciences, Hamadan Iran
  • 3Isfahan Psychosomatic Research Center, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences. Isfahan, Iran.
  • 4Psychiatry & Psychology Research Center (PPRC), Roozbeh Hospital, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
  • 5Psychiatric Hospital of the University of Basel, Center for Affective, Stress and Sleep Disorders (ZASS), Basel, Switzerland

Background: Memantine, a non-competitive N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) receptor antagonist, may be applied as an add-on in treating patients suffering from obsessive-compulsive disorders (OCD). The aim of the present study was therefore to assess the effect of adjuvant memantine in a double-blind, randomized and placebo-controlled study of the treatment of patients suffering from OCD. Method: A total of 40 inpatients (32 females [80%], mean age: M = 31.25 years) suffering from OCD were randomly assigned to a treatment (administration of memantine) or a control group (placebo). Treatment lasted for 12 consecutive weeks. All patients were treated with SSRIs or clomipramine. Patients completed the Y-BOCS four times. Experts' ratings consisted in clinical global impression (CGI: illness severity and illness improvement; 2 – 3 times). Results: Of the 40 inpatients approached, 29 completed the 12 consecutive weeks of the study. Of the 11 drop-outs, six were in the target group and five in the control group. Symptoms significantly decreased across the period of the study, but particularly in the treatment compared to the control group (significant Time x Group-interaction). Illness severity (CGI severity) also significantly decreased over time, but more so in the treatment than the control group (significant Time x Group-interaction). Conclusions: The pattern of results suggests that adjuvant memantine does significantly and favorably impact on obsessive-compulsive disorders.