Efficacy of combination of fluoxetine and cognitive behavioral therapy and fluoxetine alone for the treatment of obsessive compulsive disorder

A number of pharmacological approaches as well as psychological interventions are effective in the treatment of obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD). The present study was conducted to see the relative efficacy of treatment approaches. 30 diagnosed cases of OCD were taken and divided into two groups. Each group consisted of 15 patients. Group A (N=15) received Capsule Fluoxetine and Group B (N=15) received Capsule Fluoxetine and CBT (13 weekly sessions). Twenty six participants completed the study (13 in each group). Dhaka University Obsessive-compulsive Scale (DUOCS) was used to measure the symptom severity. Symptom scores were measured at weeks 1, 5, 9 and 13. After 13 weeks, analysis of the data was done and the means of initial DUOCS score and 13th week score were compared. In both the groups the mean score changes were highly significant (p=0.000). Intra group analysis revealed that both the treatment approaches were highly efficacious. Inter-group analysis revealed that the response in combination group was significantly higher starting from 9th week, continuing up to 13th week. Mean symptom reduction and mean percentage reduction of symptoms were also higher in the case of combination group.