Obsessive-Compulsive Spectrum Disorders: Effective Treatment with Paroxetine

Abstract

Objective: To examine whether, like pure obsessive-compulsive disorder, obsessive-compulsive spectrum disorders are treatable with a selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI). Method: Case histories of patients prescribed paroxetine for compulsive collecting, skin-picking, and trichotillomania were reviewed. Results: All patients were successfully treated with paroxetine. Conclusions: Obsessive-compulsive spectrum disorders may share a serotonin-related dysfunction, and SSRIs may prove effective in their treatment.