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Are 5‐HT 3 antagonists effective in obsessive–compulsive disorder? A systematic review of literature
Author(s) -
Serata Daniele,
Kotzalidis Georgios D.,
Rapinesi Chiara,
Janiri Delfina,
Di Pietro Simone,
Callovini Gemma,
Piacentino Daria,
Gasperoni Carlotta,
Brugnoli Roberto,
Ferri Vittoria Rachele,
Girardi Nicoletta,
Tatarelli Roberto,
Ferracuti Stefano,
Angeletti Gloria,
Girardi Paolo,
Del Casale Antonio
Publication year - 2015
Publication title -
human psychopharmacology: clinical and experimental
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.461
H-Index - 78
eISSN - 1099-1077
pISSN - 0885-6222
DOI - 10.1002/hup.2461
Subject(s) - obsessive compulsive , granisetron , clinical trial , placebo , systematic review , psychology , medicine , ondansetron , psychotherapist , meta analysis , medline , psychiatry , alternative medicine , nausea , pathology , antiemetic , political science , law
Objective The purpose of this literature database search‐based review was to critically consider and evaluate the findings of literature focusing on efficacy and safety of 5‐HT 3 antagonists in the treatment of obsessive–compulsive disorder (OCD), so as to test whether preclinical data match clinical therapeutic trials. Design The PubMed database has been searched for papers on 5‐HT 3 antagonists and OCD in humans and for animal models of OCD and 5‐HT 3 receptors. Results Of the clinically tested 5‐HT 3 receptor antagonists, ondansetron has been used to treat OCD in five therapeutic studies, whereas granisetron only in one recent trial. Both showed some efficacy in open studies and superiority to placebo in double‐blind studies, along with fair safety. No animal OCD model directly implicated 5‐HT 3 receptors. Conclusions Overall, results indicate some utility, but the available literature is too scanty to allow for valid conclusions to be drawn. The mismatch between animal models of obsessive–compulsive disorder and clinical data with 5‐HT 3 antagonists needs more clinical data to ensure that it is not an artefact. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.