Successful treatment for obsessive-compulsive disorder with addition of low-dose risperidone to fluvoxamine: implications for plasma levels of catecholamine metabolites and serum brain-derived neurotrophic factor levels

Psychiatry Clin Neurosci. 2006 Jun;60(3):389-93. doi: 10.1111/j.1440-1819.2006.01519.x.

Abstract

The authors report on the successful treatment of obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) in three patients with the addition of risperidone to ongoing fluvoxamine treatment. Plasma homovanillic acid (HVA), but not 3-methoxy-4-hydroxyphenylglycol (MHPG) levels decreased after risperidone administration, and plasma levels of fluvoxamine did not change. In addition, serum brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) levels were not altered after the recovery from obsessive-compulsive symptoms, indicating that serum BDNF levels might not predict the patient's response to risperidone treatment. Taken together, a combination treatment of risperdone and fluvoxamine might improve obsessive-compulsive symptoms. In short, fluvoxamine enhances the activity of the serotonergic system by inhibiting serotonin transporters, and risperidone decreases that of the dopaminergic system by blocking D2 receptors.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Antipsychotic Agents / blood
  • Antipsychotic Agents / therapeutic use*
  • Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor / blood*
  • Catecholamines / metabolism*
  • Dose-Response Relationship, Drug
  • Drug Therapy, Combination
  • Female
  • Fluvoxamine / blood
  • Fluvoxamine / therapeutic use*
  • Homovanillic Acid / blood
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Methoxyhydroxyphenylglycol / blood
  • Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder / drug therapy*
  • Risperidone / blood
  • Risperidone / therapeutic use*
  • Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors / blood
  • Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors / therapeutic use*
  • Serotonin Antagonists / blood
  • Serotonin Antagonists / therapeutic use*

Substances

  • Antipsychotic Agents
  • Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor
  • Catecholamines
  • Serotonin Antagonists
  • Serotonin Uptake Inhibitors
  • Methoxyhydroxyphenylglycol
  • Risperidone
  • Fluvoxamine
  • Homovanillic Acid