Abstract
BackgroundPrevious research has suggested a link between antidepressants use and the development of cerebrovascular events, but there has never been any study investigating the risk of stroke in obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) patients treated with a selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI).MethodsA retrospective observational cohort study was conducted using data from the National Health Insurance Database of Taiwan between the year of 2001 and 2009. A total of 527 OCD patients with 412 subjects in the SSRI use group and 115 in the non SSRI use group were included. Multivariable Cox proportional-hazards models were used to explore the associations between SSRI use and the occurrence of stroke, controlling for age, gender, concomitant medications, and comorbid medical illnesses.ResultsA total of nineteen OCD patients were diagnosed with new onset of stroke during the follow-up period including six cases in the SSRI group and thirteen in the non SSRI use group. SSRI use was demonstrated to be associated with a decreased risk of stroke (hazard ratio [HR] = 0.30; 95% confidence interval [CI] = 0.10–0.86, P = 0.02). The increase in age-related risk of strokes was 2.55 per decade (HR = 2.55; 95% CI = 1.74–3.75, P<0.001). Alternatively, sex, concomitant use of aspirin and non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, and comorbidities with angina pectoris, diabetes mellitus, hypertension, and hyperlipidemia were not found to be associated with an increased risk for stroke in OCD patients.ConclusionsOur study showed that SSRI use was associated with decreased risk of stroke in OCD patients. Further investigation into the possible biological mechanisms underlying the relationship between stroke and SSRI use in OCD patients is warranted.
Highlights
Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) is a chronic psychiatric illness characterized by repetitive overt and covert acts which can be obsessions, compulsions, or both [1]
Previous research has suggested a link between antidepressants use and the development of cerebrovascular events, but there has never been any study investigating the risk of stroke in obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) patients treated with a selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI)
SSRI use was demonstrated to be associated with a decreased risk of stroke
Summary
Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) is a chronic psychiatric illness characterized by repetitive overt and covert acts which can be obsessions (i.e., intrusive recurrent thoughts), compulsions (i.e., repetitive behaviors in response to obsessions), or both [1]. Symptoms of OCD are associated with reduced quality of life [4] and cause significant functional impairments [5]. The World Health Organization has ranked OCD as one of the 10 most handicapping conditions by lost income and decreased quality of life [6]. Current evidence supports the use of selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) as first-line pharmacotherapy for treatment of OCD, for its’ effectiveness and safety [7]. The U.S food and drug administration (FDA) has approved several SSRIs such as fluoxetine, fluvoxamine, paroxetine, and sertraline for treatment of OCD. Previous research has suggested a link between antidepressants use and the development of cerebrovascular events, but there has never been any study investigating the risk of stroke in obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) patients treated with a selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI)
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
