Evidence supporting the use of: Inositol
For the health condition: Obsessive Compulsive Disorder

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Synopsis

Source of validity: Scientific
Rating (out of 5): 2

Inositol, particularly in the form of myo-inositol, has been investigated as a potential treatment for Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD) based on its role in cell signaling and neurotransmitter modulation, specifically within the serotonin system. The scientific rationale stems from the observation that inositol acts as a precursor in the phosphatidylinositol second messenger system, which is implicated in the action of serotonin and other neurotransmitters thought to be dysregulated in OCD. The primary clinical evidence supporting inositol for OCD comes from a small double-blind, placebo-controlled crossover trial published in the American Journal of Psychiatry in 1996 by Fux et al. In this study, 13 subjects with OCD were given 18 grams of inositol daily for six weeks. The results showed a significant reduction in OCD symptoms compared to placebo. However, subsequent studies have been limited, with some failing to replicate these findings, and most trials have involved small sample sizes. Major psychiatric guidelines do not currently recommend inositol as a first-line or standard treatment for OCD, and more robust, larger-scale studies are needed to clarify its efficacy and safety. Therefore, while there is a scientific basis and preliminary clinical support for its use, the evidence is currently rated as low to moderate (2/5) due to limited and inconsistent data.

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