The drug-naïve OCD patients imaging genetics, cognitive and treatment response study: methods and sample description.

Hoexter, Marcelo Queiroz; Shavitt, Roseli Gedanke; D’Alcante, Carina Chaubet; Cecconi, Janaina Philippi; Diniz, Juliana Belo; Belotto-Silva, Cristina; Hounie, Ana Gabriela; Borcato, Sonia; Moraes, Ivanil; Joaquim, Marines Alves; Cappi, Carolina; Sampaio, Aline Santos; de Mathis, Maria Alice; Batistuzzo, Marcelo Camargo; Lopes, Antonio Carlos; Rosa, Ana Carolina Ferreira; Muniz, Renan Kawano; Marques, Andrea Horvath; Santos, Luciana Cristina; Taub, Anita

Objective: To describe a protocol that was based on an integrative neurobiological model of scientific investigation to better understand the pathophysiology of obsessive-compulsive disorder and to present the clinical and demographic characteristics of the sample. Method: A standardized research protocol that combines different methods of investigation (genetics, neuropsychology, morphometric magnetic resonance imaging and molecular neuroimaging of the dopamine transporter) obtained before and after treatment of drug-naïve adult obsessive-compulsive disorder patients submitted to a sequentially allocated 12-week clinical trial with a selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (fluoxetine) and group cognitive-behavioral therapy. Results: Fifty-two treatment-naïve obsessive-compulsive disorder patients entered the clinical trial (27 received fluoxetine and 25 received group cognitive-behavioral therapy). At baseline, 47 blood samples for genetic studies, 50 neuropsychological evaluations, 50 morphometrical magnetic resonance images and 48 TRODAT-1 single-photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) exams were obtained. After 12 weeks, 38 patients completed the protocol (fluoxetine = 20 and GCBT = 18). Thirty-eight neuropsychological evaluations, 31 morphometrical magnetic resonance images and 34 TRODAT-1 SPECT exams were obtained post-treatment. Forty-one healthy controls matched for age, gender, socioeconomic status, level of education and laterality were submitted to the same research procedures at baseline. Conclusion: The comprehensive treatment response protocol applied in this project allowing integration on genetic, neuropsychological, morphometrical and molecular imaging of the dopamine transporter data in drug-naïve patients has the potential to generate important original information on the neurobiology of obsessive-compulsive disorder, and at the same time be clinically meaningful.

MENTAL health services; COGNITION; OBSESSIVE-compulsive disorder; DIAGNOSTIC imaging; NEUROBIOLOGY; PATHOLOGICAL physiology; GENETICS; PATIENTS

Brazilian Journal of Psychiatry / Revista Brasileira de Psiquiatria, 2009, Vol 31, Issue 4, p345

1516-4446

Academic Journal

10.1590/S1516-44462009000400011