Antipsychotic augmentation of selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors in resistant tic-related obsessive-compulsive disorder in children and adolescents: A naturalistic comparative study

The aim of this study is to assess efficacy of augmentation of SSRIs with risperidone or aripiprazole in youths with tic-related Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD) non responders to an SSRI monotherapy. 120 consecutive patients (age range 7-18 years) were treated with an SSRI monotherapy for at least 12 weeks, 51 (42.5%) were responders, and the 69 non-responders (mean age 13.7 ± 2.4 years) were included in this study. 35 patients received an augmentation with risperidone (1.7 ± .8 mg/day), and 34 with aripiprazole (8.9 ± 3.1 mg/day) for 12 weeks. Regarding the OCD symptomatology, at the endpoint the Clinical Global Impression-Severity score (CGI-S) improved from 5.6 ± .8 (severely ill), to 3.2 ± .9 (mild to moderately ill) (p < .0001), and the Children-Global Assessment Scale (C-GAS) from 40.3 ± 5.2 to 53.8 ± 9.2 (p < .0001). Thirty-nine patients (56.5%) were responders in OCD symptomatology (CGI-I score 1 or 2, CGI-S score 3 or less and C-GAS score 50 or more during three consecutive months after a 12-week treatment). Compared to non responders, they were less impaired at the baseline in CGI-S (p < .0001) and C-GAS (p < .0001). Subtypes of OCD and comorbidity did not affect the response. No differences were found between risperidone and aripiprazole augmentation. 47 patients (68.1%) significantly improved tics, without differences between risperidone and aripiprazole. None discontinued medications because of side effects, but risperidone was associated with weight gain and sedation, and aripiprazole to mild/moderate agitation. In tic-related pediatric OCD, augmentation of SSRIs with risperidone or aripiprazole was tolerated and effective in about half of the patients non responding to an SSRI.