Research Information System
ARCHIVES OF PSYCHIATRY AND PSYCHOTHERAPY, vol.20, no.4, pp.57-65, 2018 (ESCI, Scopus)
Background: The first line medicinal treatment of obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) includes selectiveserotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs). Researchers have shown that there is a correlation between a deficiency of trace elements, the trace elements deficiency such as selenium, and mental disorders and mood, -Since selenium is a safe supplement with a favorable side effect profile, it may be useful as an adjunctive treatment with SSRIs. Aim: To determine if adjunctive selenium therapy improves symptoms in treatment-resistant OCD. Methods: Thirty-two patients with treatment-resistant OCD were selected and randomly assigned to two groups: intervention and control, with both groups continuing to receive SSRI drugs according to current guidelines. The intervention group received one 200 mcg selenium capsule daily while the control group received one placebo capsule each day for 6 weeks. Results: Y-BOCS scores decreased at the end of the sixth week in both groups, but this reduction was significantly lower in the selenium group (P = 0.01). Selenium was well tolerated and there was no significant difference between the two groups in the incidence of side effects. Conclusion: The results of this study indicate that selenium, as an adjunctive treatment with SSRIs, improves symptoms of OCD and thus can be used as a new drug for treatment-resistant OCD.