Evidence map›Paper›PMID 40457233›Full record

Trial reportBMC psychiatry2025

Memantine augmentation of escitalopram in treatment of executive function among patients with obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD): a double-blind placebo-controlled randomized clinical trial.

Hasan Mirzazadeh, Younes Ghaeminia, Amin Mohamad Niaei, Mohammadsadegh Kamran, Leila Razeghian Jahromi, Reza Moshfeghinia

Abstract readRandomized Controlled Trial
PubMed Full text at PMC Publisher
In one paragraph

Trial report in BMC psychiatry, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 3 papers, 2 of them syntheses that pooled it.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
3citing papers in PubMed, 2 pooled it
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

3 citing papers in PubMed, 2 syntheses or guidelines pooled it.

  1. Pooled it
  2. Pooled it
  3. Article
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

6 authors.

Hasan MirzazadehResearch Center for Psychiatry and Behavior Science, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran.
Younes GhaeminiaSchool of Medicine, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran.
Amin Mohamad NiaeiStudent Research Committee, Lorestan University of Medical Sciences, Lorestan, Iran.
Mohammadsadegh KamranStudent Research Committee, Fasa University of Medical Sciences, Fasa, Iran.
Leila Razeghian JahromiResearch Center for Psychiatry and Behavior Science, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran. l_razeghian@sums.ac.ir.
Reza MoshfeghiniaResearch Center for Psychiatry and Behavior Science, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran. rezamoshfeghinia@gmail.com.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundObsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD) involves persistent, intrusive thoughts and repetitive behaviors. While SSRIs like escitalopram are common treatments, some patients do not respond adequately. This study aims to assess memantine's effectiveness as an adjunct therapy to enhance executive function in OCD patients.

methodsThis study was a 16-week, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical trial to evaluate if adding memantine to escitalopram helps treat OCD. A total of 60 participants were recruited from Namazi Hospital and Ibn Sina Polyclinic in Shiraz, Iran. Participants were randomly divided into two groups: the control group received escitalopram plus placebo, and the intervention group received escitalopram plus memantine. The main outcome, the severity of OCD symptoms, was measured using the Yale-Brown Obsessive-Compulsive Scale (Y-BOCS), and executive function was assessed using the Barkley Deficits in Executive Functioning Scale (BDEFS). Safety was checked weekly using the Drug Adverse Event Questionnaire. Data were analyzed using SPSS, with a significance level set at p < 0.05.

resultsAll sixty participants completed the 16 weeks of the study. Thirty participants per group (Placebo, Memantine) showed no significant differences in age, gender, or education (P > 0.05) at baseline. Both groups showed significant reductions in Y-BOCS scores (P < 0.001), with the Placebo group decreasing from 32.83 (SD = 4.04) to 5.30 (SD = 3.18) and the Memantine group from 31.60 (SD = 2.62) to 5.20 (SD = 2.62) without difference between groups (P = 0.12). Notebale Improvements in executive function were observed, particularly in time management, where Memantine outperformed Placebo (P = 0.03). Other domains showed no significant differences. Adverse events were minimal; gastrointestinal symptoms were rare, with Memantine showing a higher incidence but not statistically significant.

conclusionThe study found that while both treatment regimens significantly alleviated OCD symptoms, memantine did not provide notable advantages over escitalopram alone, except in time management. Further research is needed to assess long-term effects and mechanisms of this combination therapy.

trial registrationIRCT20211118053093N5, 25/06/2025.

Indexed as

CitalopramEscitalopramExecutive FunctionMemantineObsessive-Compulsive DisorderSelective Serotonin Reuptake InhibitorsAdultDouble-Blind MethodDrug Therapy, CombinationFemaleHumansIranMaleMiddle AgedTreatment OutcomeYoung AdultCitalopramEscitalopramMemantineSelective Serotonin Reuptake InhibitorsAugmentation therapyEscitalopramExecutive functionMemantineObsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD)

Identifiers

PMID40457233
PMCPMC12131613

What OpenQuestion holds

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Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.