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Abstract:
Exposure therapy is an effective cognitive-behavioral treatment for
patients with obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD). However, a further
amelioration of symptoms by additional drugs that enhance extinction
learning is desirable. An interesting candidate is pregnenolone, which
positively modulates NMDA and GABA(A) receptors in preclinical studies
and influences amygdala and prefrontal activity in humans. We present
pilot data showing high acceptance and good tolerability of pregnenolone
given 2h before exposure sessions in OCD patients. As per our interim
analyses, exposure treatment resulted in significantly improved main
outcome parameters, but no effects of pregnenolone vs. placebo
pretreatment were detectable thus far.
