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.
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