Effects of quetiapine-augmentation on clinical symptom and cognitive functioning in obsessive-compulsive disorder

Abstract

Objective To investigate the efficacy and effects on cognitive functioning of antipsychotic addition to serotonin reuptake inhibitors in patients with treatment-refractory obsessive-compulsive disorder. Methods 58 therapy-resistant OCD patients were randomly grouped and receipt 8-week quetiapine-augmentation treatment or placebo respectively. At baseline and post-treatment, in order to evaluate symptom, executive functions, attention and memory, all patients were measured with Yale-Brown Obsessive-Compulsive Scale and cognitive functioning test, which included Wisconsin Card Sorting Test, Stroop Color Word Test,Continuous Performance Test and Memory Scale. Results Comparing quetiapine-augmentation group and placebo, there was significant difference of Y-BOCS total score between baseline and post-treatment (baseline:28.5±4.4,26.3±6.5,post-treatment:18.5±6.4,25.7±5.4, respectively,P=0.01). There was no major effects on cognitive functioning, apart from a failure to maintain set on the WCST (baseline:1.2±1.1,1.3±1.4,post-treatment:1.6±1.0,1.5±1.2,respectively,P=0.03).Conclusion It was effective of quetiapine-augmentation treatment on refractory OCD. There was no major effects on cognitive functioning of quetiapine-augmentation treatment. Key words: Obsessive-compulsive disorder; Refractory-treatment; Quetiapine; Effect; Cognitive function