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Most psychiatrists begin pharmacotherapy for Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD) treatment with Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors (SSRIs) because they tend to lead to fewer side effects than other symptom-alleviating medications such as clomipramine. SSRIs have been shown to produce response rates of up to 60% in patients with OCD (Paxos, 2022). However, this leaves a considerable number of patients in need of other treatments. clomipramine may be used as either a monotherapy or in combination with an SSRI, as evidence has highlighted the positive impact it has on patients with OCD (Andrade, 2013). Previous research shows that clomipramine and SSRIs are roughly equivalent in benefit when taken alone (Mago, 2017). That said, less is known about the combination of these two medicines. This review will examine the literature comparing individuals with OCD medicated by either SSRIs or clomipramine alone, as well as those taking both in tandem in order to see which prescription best augments exposure and response prevention-based treatment. In addition, this review will briefly describe alternate treatments to examine other possible approaches to effective psychopharmacology.
Emily Skoutas (Thu,) studied this question.