Agomelatine efficacy in treatment resistant obsessive-compulsive disorder: A randomized double-blind clinical trial.

BACKGROUND

Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) is a prevalent and burdensome mental health condition, often resistant to conventional treatments. Agomelatine (Valdoxan), a compound acting on serotonin and melatonin systems, has shown promise in anecdotal reports and case studies for OCD treatment.

METHODS

A randomized, double-blind clinical trial was conducted with 60 patients diagnosed with treatment-resistant OCD. Participants were divided into an intervention group (receiving agomelatine 50 mg/day) and a control group (placebo). OCD symptoms were assessed using the Yale-Brown Obsessive-Compulsive Scale (Y-BOCS) over a 12-week period.

RESULTS

There were no significant differences in age, gender, or baseline Y-BOCS scores between the groups. Agomelatine did not demonstrate a significant improvement in OCD symptoms compared to the placebo. Adverse events were comparable between groups, and liver enzyme levels remained within the normal range.

CONCLUSION

This study, while not confirming significant efficacy, underscores the need for continued investigation into agomelatine's potential in treating specific subgroups of OCD patients, emphasizing the necessity for more comprehensive and well-controlled trials in the future.

Déclaration de conflit d'intérêts

Declaration of conflicting interestsThe author(s) declared no potential conflicts of interest with respect to the research, authorship, and/or publication of this article.