Emerging skin-picking behaviour after serotonin reuptake inhibitor-treatment in patients with obsessive-compulsive disorder: possible mechanisms and implications for clinical care

Damiaan Denys, Harold J. G. M. van Megen, Herman G. M. Westenberg

Research output: Contribution to journalArticleAcademicpeer-review

25 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

Pathological skin-picking is a self-injurious, impulsive behaviour with repetitive, and ritualistic characteristics. A number of studies show that selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) may be efficacious in reducing skin-picking behaviour. Two case reports are presented demonstrating that SSRI-treatment may induce or aggravate pathological skin-picking behaviour. Possible mechanisms of SSRI-induced pathological skin-picking and implications for clinical care are discussed
Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)127-129
JournalJournal of psychopharmacology (Oxford, England)
Volume17
Issue number1
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 2003

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