D-Cycloserine for Pediatric OCD Treatment

Two hundred six youths with a primary OCD diagnosis were enrolled between June 1, 2011, and January 30, 2015, at 2 sites (University of South Florida and Massachusetts General Hospital). Of these, 142 (age range, 7-17 years) were randomized to either D-cycloserine plus CBT or placebo plus CBT. Inclusion criteria were current and primary DSM-IV-TR OCD diagnosis established via clinical assessment and the Schedule for Affective Disorders and Schizophrenia for School-Age Children–Present and Lifetime Version,^{33 (link)} a score of at least 16 on the Children’s Yale-Brown Obsessive Compulsive Scale (CY-BOCS),^{34 (link)} and at least 85 on the full-scale IQ.³⁵ Children were excluded if any of the following criteria were met: (1) They initiated an antidepressant or antipsychotic medication within 12 or 6 weeks, respectively, before enrollment or had an increase in an established antidepressant dosage within 8 weeks before enrollment (6 weeks for antipsychotics). Medications were stable for 8 weeks before enrollment (6 weeks for anti-psychotics) and remained stable throughout treatment. (2) They had epilepsy, renal insufficiency, current or past substance abuse, generally poor physical health, weight less than 22.5 kg, or known D-cycloserine allergy. (3) They were unable to swallow study medication. (4) They had active suicidality or a suicide attempt in the past year. (5) They were pregnant or having unprotected sex (among female participants). (6) They had comorbid psychosis, bipolar disorder, autistic disorder, anorexia nervosa, or non-OCD primary hoarding symptoms.