A preliminary study of D-cycloserine augmentation of cognitive-behavioral therapy in pediatric obsessive-compulsive disorder.
PMID 20817153 · Biological psychiatry · 2010 · DOI 10.1016/j.biopsych.2010.07.015
Authors: Eric A Storch; Tanya K Murphy; Wayne K Goodman; Gary R Geffken; Adam B Lewin; Aude Henin; Jamie A Micco; Susan Sprich; Sabine Wilhelm; Michael Bengtson; Daniel A Geller
Abstract
Research on the neural circuitry underlying fear extinction has led to the examination of D-cycloserine (DCS), a partial agonist at the N-methyl-D-aspartate receptor in the amygdala, as a method to enhance exposure therapy outcome. Preliminary results have supported the use of DCS to augment exposure therapy in adult anxiety disorders; however, no data have been reported in any childhood anxiety disorder. Thus, we sought to preliminarily examine whether weight-adjusted DCS doses (25 or 50 mg) enhanced the overall efficacy of cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) for pediatric obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD). Participants were 30 youth (aged 8-17) with a primary diagnosis of OCD. The study design was a randomized, double-blinded, placebo-controlled augmentation trial examining CBT + DCS versus CBT + Placebo (15 youth per group). All patients received seven exposure and response prevention sessions paired with DCS or placebo taken 1 hour before sessions. Although not significantly different, compared with the CBT + Placebo group, youth in the CBT + DCS arm showed small-to-moderate treatment effects (d = .31-.47 on primary outcomes). No adverse events were recorded. These results complement findings in adult OCD and non-OCD anxiety disorders and provide initial support for a more extensive study of DCS augmentation of CBT among youth with OCD.
Adolescent; Child; Cognitive Behavioral Therapy; Combined Modality Therapy; Cycloserine; Double-Blind Method; Female; Humans; Linear Models; Male; Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder; Psychiatric Status Rating Scales; Treatment Outcome
Cite
Eric A Storch; Tanya K Murphy; Wayne K Goodman; Gary R Geffken; Adam B Lewin; Aude Henin; Jamie A Micco; Susan Sprich; Sabine Wilhelm; Michael Bengtson; Daniel A Geller. A preliminary study of D-cycloserine augmentation of cognitive-behavioral therapy in pediatric obsessive-compulsive disorder. Biological psychiatry (2010). PMID 20817153. DOI 10.1016/j.biopsych.2010.07.015.