Patients with obsessive-compulsive disorder who achieve wellness after exposure/response prevention therapy may be able to safely discontinue antidepressants, a small trial suggests.

Given the lack of guidance on taping agents for obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) post-behavioural therapy, US researchers say their findings could ultimately give patients greater control over their treatment options.

The University of Pennsylvania and Columbia University-led team cautioned, however, that those who stopped their SSRIs or other antidepressants had higher clinical relapse rates and should be monitored for signs of worsening depressive symptoms.

In a 24-week randomised trial, 101 adults (mean age 31) with OCD and who had been taking the drugs for at least three months were assigned to either taper to placebo or continue their medication.