ABSTRACT
Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) generally follows a chronic, fluctuating clinical course. Few (::; 10%) patients meeting full criterion for OCD will experience a symptom-free period of more than 1 month without symptomatology (Goodman, McDougle, & Price, 1992; Rasmussen & Eisen, 1992). As a result, OCD is often associated with considerable morbidity, psychosocial impairment, and occupational disability (Dupont, Rice, Shiraki, & Rowland, 1995). Fortunately first-line anti-OCD medication(s) are associated with symptom reduction in most patients with OCD (Goodman et al., 1992; Jenike & Rauch, 1994; Pigott & Seay, in press). In this chapter we provide a review of: (a) acute pharmacotherapy for OCD, (b) maintenance pharmacotherapy for OCD, and (c) pharmacotherapeutic strategies for treatment-refractory OCD.
