HOW FREQUENTLY ARE ATYPICAL ANTIPSYCHOTICS USED TO TREAT OCD IN A BRITISH COMMUNITY MENTAL HEALTH TEAM?

Obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD) is a condition with a prevalence of around 1-2% (3-4% in some studies) with a recognised protocol for its treatment produced by the national institute for health and clinical excellence (NICE). NICE recommends that all patients with OCD are first offered treatment with cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) concentrating on exposure and response prevention (ERP) before proceeding to selective serotonin re-uptake inhibitors (SSRIs). Treatment may later be augmented with clomipramine and/or an antipsychotic. This study focuses on the biological treatment received after, or in parallel to, the psychological . We aimed to collate and evaluate the levels of biological treatment currently received by OCD outpatients in the Bedford East catchment area of SEPT. In particular we wished to establish how many of the patients were receiving an atypical antipsychotic as well as maximal SSRIs. Hence we have attempted to assess the types of treatment received by patients under our care, and the difficulties associated with the treatment of this illness