Effects of fluvoxamine in the treatment of trichotillomania

Abstract

Objective To evaluate clinical efficacy and safety of fluvoxamine in the treatment of trichotillomania. Methods 24 outpatients who met the DSM-Ⅳ diagnosis criteria for trichotillomania received fluvoxamine for 12 weeks and 17 tricholillomania outpatients weren't treated with fluvoxamine.Clinical efficacies and adverse reactions were assessed with the spence children's anxiety scale(SCAS), Kovacs children's depression inventory(CDI), clinical global impression(CGI) and treatment emergent symptom scale(TESS) before treatment and the end of the 4th and 12th week. Results After 4 weeks treatment, the scores of the SCAS(59.75±12.35), CDI(24.95±7.68) and CGI(SI)(3.79±0.93) were lower than those before treatment(71.50±20.65, 31.60±10.40, 5.88±0.68 respectively)(P<0.05). After 12 weeks treatment the scores of the SCAS, CDI and CGI(SI) were lower than those after 4 weeks treatment (P<0.05). After 12 weeks treatment the scores of the CGI(GI)(1.54±0.59) were lower than that at the end of 4 weeks treatment(2.96±0.69) (P<0.05). Conclusion Fluvoxamine has a good efficacy and higher safety in the treatment of trichotillomania. Key words: Fluvoxamine; Trichotillomania; Child psychiatry