TY - JOUR
T1 - Augmentation of behavior therapy with D-cycloserine for obsessive-compulsive disorder
AU - Wilhelm, Sabine
AU - Buhlmann, Ulrike
AU - Tolin, David F.
AU - Meunier, Suzanne A.
AU - Pearlson, Godfrey D.
AU - Reese, Hannah E.
AU - Cannistraro, Paul
AU - Jenike, Michael A.
AU - Rauch, Scott L.
PY - 2008/3
Y1 - 2008/3
N2 - Objective: This study examined whether D-cycloserine, a partial agonist at the N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) glutamatergic receptor, enhances the efficacy of behavior therapy for obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD). Method: A randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial investigating D-cycloserine versus placebo augmentation of behavior therapy was conducted in 23 OCD patients. Patients first underwent a diagnostic interview and pretreatment evaluation, followed by a psychoeducational/treatment planning session. Then they received 10 behavior therapy sessions. Treatment sessions were conducted twice per week. One hour before each of the behavior therapy sessions, the participants received either D-cycloserine, 100 mg, or a placebo. Results: Relative to the placebo group, the D-cycloserine group's OCD symptoms were significantly more improved at mid-treatment, and the D-cycloserine group's depressive symptoms were significantly more improved at posttreatment. Conclusions: These data provide support for the use of D-cycloserine as an augmentation of behavior therapy for OCD and extend findings in animals and other human disorders suggesting that behavior therapy acts by way of long-term potentiation of glutamatergic pathways and that the effects of behavior therapy are potentiated by an NMDA agonist.
AB - Objective: This study examined whether D-cycloserine, a partial agonist at the N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) glutamatergic receptor, enhances the efficacy of behavior therapy for obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD). Method: A randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial investigating D-cycloserine versus placebo augmentation of behavior therapy was conducted in 23 OCD patients. Patients first underwent a diagnostic interview and pretreatment evaluation, followed by a psychoeducational/treatment planning session. Then they received 10 behavior therapy sessions. Treatment sessions were conducted twice per week. One hour before each of the behavior therapy sessions, the participants received either D-cycloserine, 100 mg, or a placebo. Results: Relative to the placebo group, the D-cycloserine group's OCD symptoms were significantly more improved at mid-treatment, and the D-cycloserine group's depressive symptoms were significantly more improved at posttreatment. Conclusions: These data provide support for the use of D-cycloserine as an augmentation of behavior therapy for OCD and extend findings in animals and other human disorders suggesting that behavior therapy acts by way of long-term potentiation of glutamatergic pathways and that the effects of behavior therapy are potentiated by an NMDA agonist.
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=42449140233&partnerID=8YFLogxK
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/citedby.url?scp=42449140233&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1176/appi.ajp.2007.07050776
DO - 10.1176/appi.ajp.2007.07050776
M3 - Article
C2 - 18245177
AN - SCOPUS:42449140233
VL - 165
SP - 335
EP - 341
JO - American Journal of Psychiatry
JF - American Journal of Psychiatry
SN - 0002-953X
IS - 3
ER -