Assessing the effectiveness of pharmacotherapy for obsessive-compulsive disorder

*Research article by Jeremy C S Johnson, James G Scott, Naomi Jess. Royal Brisbane and Women’s Hospital, Brisbane, QLD 4029, Australia (JCSJ, JGS, NJ); The University of Queensland Centre for Clinical Research, Brisbane, QLD, Australia (JGS).

Abstract

The results of the network meta analysis in The Lancet Psychiatry (August, 2016) by Petros Skapinakis and colleagues1 showed the effectiveness of a range of interventions for obsessive-compulsive disorder. The authors highlighted the efficacy of psychological interventions, primarily behavioural, cognitive, or a combination of both. The effect size of psychological interventions for obsessive-compulsive disorder was greater than for pharmacological interventions. The authors alerted readers to the important limitation that those who received psychological therapies were often concurrently treated with pharmacotherapy.

Executive Summary

In studies of pharmacotherapy for obsessive-compulsive disorder, the authors did not comment on the participant’s receipt, or otherwise, of concurrent psychological interventions. In how many of the studies in which pharmacotherapy was being assessed did the subjects receive concurrent psychotherapy? In the 39 studies on pharmacotherapy in the review, we were able to retrieve 27 studies, of which 17 did not mention exclusion of patients receiving psychological interventions, and in three studies some of the patients were reported as receiving concurrent psychotherapy.

*To read the full article please search for Dr JJ's publication online