Abstract
Aim of the studyThe first line medicinal treatment of Obsessive Compulsive Disorder includes Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors (SSRIs).Researchers have shown that there is a correlation between the trace elements deficiency such as selenium and mental disorders and mood, since selenium is a safe and non-tolerable side-effect supplementation that may be useful as an adjunctive treatment with SSRIs.Subject or material and methodsThirty-two patients with a treatment-resistant obsessive-compulsive disorder were selected and randomly entered into two groups: intervention and control, while both groups continued to consume SSRI drugs according to the current procedure. The intervention group received one 200 mcg selenium capsule daily and each daily control group received one capsule of placebo for 6 weeks.ResultsY-BOCS scores decreased at the end of the sixth week in both groups, but this reduction was significantly lower in the selenium group (P = 0.01). Selenium was well tolerated and there was no significant difference between the two groups in the incidence of side effectsDiscussionThe results of this study indicate that selenium as an adjunctive treatment with SSRIs improves symptomsConclusionsSelenium can be as new drug for treatment of Refractory OCD.
Highlights
Selenium is a mineral substance and trace element, and the thirty-fourth element of the periodic table of elements in nature. This element is an essential component of selenoproteins, which play an important role in many physiological functions of the body, such as antioxidant defense, the production of thyroid hormones, DNA synthesis, fertility, and reproduction
Pharmacotherapy consists of three types of drugs: 1) selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) that form the first line of treatment; 2) tricyclic antidepressants (TCAs), including clomipramine; and 3) serotonin-norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors (SNRIs), including venlafaxine
In a studyconducted by Ozdemir, it was found that serum levels of selenium in obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) patients were lower compared to healthy subjects [35]
Summary
Selenium is a mineral substance and trace element, and the thirty-fourth element of the periodic table of elements in nature This element is an essential component of selenoproteins, which play an important role in many physiological functions of the body, such as antioxidant defense, the production of thyroid hormones, DNA synthesis, fertility, and reproduction. Selenium regulates iodine metabolism and plays a role in muscle function by increasing its tolerance and strength. Compulsions (obsessive actions) are repetitive behaviors such as washing, checking, counting, slow word repetition or religious rituals like worship that a person feels the urge to perform in order to respond to the obsessive thought or according to strict rules [23] This disorder begins in childhood or adolescence and because of its chronic and severe nature it causes disability and distress in social and occupational activities and generally decreases the quality of life [24, 25]. The aim of this study is to Archives of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, 2018; 4: 57–65
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