A Study of Adverse Drug Effects in Patients with Obsessive Compulsive Disorder

Aims: To identify and record adverse effects/adverse drug reactions in patients receiving pharmacotherapy for obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD) visiting Psychiatry Out patient department of King George’s Medical University, Lucknow and to assess the causality of adverse drug reactions reported by these patients.

Study Design: A prospective observational study.

Place and Duration of Study: This study was conducted in the Department of Pharmacology, in collaboration with Department of Psychiatry, King George’s Medical University, Lucknow between February 2023 to January 2024.

Methods: Patients receiving pharmacotherapy for Obsessive Compulsive disorder were recruited into the study after satisfying inclusion and exclusion criteria and observed for Adverse drug reaction. Yale-Brown Obsessive Compulsive Scale (Y-BOCS) was used to rate the severity and type of symptoms of OCD. The UKU Side Effect Rating Scale was used for assessing the side effects of medications prescribed to OCD patients and the causality of the observed adverse effects. Quantitative data summarized as Mean and Chi-Square test used for analysis of Qualitative data.

Results: A total of 72 patients were included in the study out of which 37(51.3%) developed adverse drug reactions during the study period. Most of the adverse drug reactions occurred in 18-30 years group (62.1%) with majority in male group(54%). Psychic type adverse drug reactions were commonly observed (54%) with majority reported with fluoxetine (72.9%) and dyspepsia (24.3%) was the most commonly observed adverse drug reaction. On causality assessment, most of the adverse drug reactions belonged to possible type (75.7%). 75.7% adverse drug reactions required symptomatic treatment and remaining 24.3% resolved spontaneously.

Conclusion: This study provides a representative profile of the adverse drug reactions which can be expected in obsessive compulsive disorder patients receiving pharmacotherapy. Nearly half of the study participants experienced adverse effects. Regular monitoring of ADRs in psychiatry OPD and educating the patients about ADR can reduce the risk and it may improve the quality of care, reduction in cost of treatment, adherence to drugs and improved outcome.