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EFFECT OF SSRIS ON COGNITIVE FUNCTION OF GERIATRIC PATIENTS WITH OBSESSIVE COMPULSIVE DISORDER

SSRIs are the most chosen treatment for obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD). Some studies have reported the effects of SSRIs on cognitive function, but the results are conflicting. Geriatric patients are usually more vulnerable to drugs that affect memory and cognitive function. The purpose of this study is the assessment of SSRI effect on cognition of geriatric patients with OCD. 
 
Patients aged 65 years and above, diagnosed with OCD and naive to therapy, with no complaints or history of memory loss, were eligible for entering this study. Cognitive functions of those who were willing to participate and an SSRI drug was prescribed for, were assessed by Mini-mental state examination (MMSE) test. MMSE scores of patients were recorded at four points, before taking the drug, after 3, 5 and 8 weeks of drug therapy. 
 
25 patients with the mean age of 67 ± 1.8 years (68% male and 32% female) entered our study. Their mean MMSE score prior to medication was 24.3. At 3, 5 and 8 weeks of treatment, the mean scores were 22.9, 21.04 and 20.66 respectively. With a p-value of <0.0001, the gradual decline was significant. Gender, level of education, onset of disease, patient’s response to the treatment, or drug agent did not have a relationship with this decline. 
 
The MMSE scores of our patients over the consecutive weeks of taking SSRI drugs lowered significantly. It seems that the use of SSRIs in geriatric patients with OCD, can cause cognitive dysfunction in the acute phase of treatment.