Written by Jessica Patella, ND. Just 6 weeks of supplementation with 30 mg of ashwagandha significantly decreased symptom severity in the 15 study participants with Obsessive Compulsive Disorder.
Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD) affects 1% of the US adult population, but of those who are affected, 50% are classified as severe 1. OCD is characterized by obsessive thoughts that cause anxiety and/or repetitive behaviors or compulsions that are used to try and reduce anxiety 1. OCD is a chronic disorder that is often debilitating in everyday life, making it tremendously difficult to function day-to-day 1,2. SSRIs (selective serotonin re-uptake inhibitors) are at the main line of treatment for OCD, but 40-60% of patients fail to respond to SSRIs. Of those who do respond, only 20-40% show a significant decrease in symptoms 2,3. A recent study has found that Withania somnifera (Ashwagandha) is a safe and effective adjunct therapy with SSRIs in the treatment of OCD 2.
Ashwagandha is a well-known Ayurvedic herb used for mental and physical health 2,4. It is also known to have anti-depressant properties 2,4. This is the first study of its kind to investigate if Ashwagandha could also be used for OCD 2.
The research included 30 participants diagnosed with OCD. The participants were randomly divided into an Ashwagandha group (n=15) and a placebo group (n=15). The participants were all instructed to continue taking their SSRIs. The participants then took 4 capsules per day of Ashwagandha or placebo (Ashwagandha capsules contained 30 mg Withania somnifera extract) 2.
The Yale-Brown Obsessive Compulsive Scale (Y-BOCS) is the most widely used scale for measuring symptoms of OCD. It is a 10-item scale with scores ranging from zero (no symptoms) to 40 (extreme symptoms). Participants’ scores were measured on the scale at baseline and after 6 weeks of supplementation 2.
After 6 weeks of supplementation, the scores on the Y-BCOS scale decreased significantly in the Ashwagandha group by 8 points compared to only 2 points in the placebo group (P<0.001).
In conclusion, Ashwagandha root may be an effective adjunct therapy to the standard SSRI treatment and may decrease the severity of symptoms for patients with OCD. The researchers recommended a larger scale and longer duration study to confirm the results. Multiple doses of Ashwagandha should also be studied to see if there is a dose-dependent response to the herb 2.
Source: Jahanbakhsh, Seyedeh Pardis, et al. “Evaluation of the efficacy of Withania somnifera (Ashwagandha) root extract in patients with obsessive-compulsive disorder: A randomized double-blind placebo-controlled trial.” Complementary Therapies in Medicine 27 (2016): 25-29.
© 2016 Published by Elsevier Ltd.
Posted January 27, 2017.
Jessica Patella, ND, is a naturopathic physician specializing in nutrition and homeopathic medicine and offers a holistic approach to health. She earned her ND from Southwest College of Naturopathic Medicine in Tempe, AZ, and is a member of the North Carolina Association of Naturopathic Physicians. Visit her website at www.awarenesswellness.com.
References:
- Obsessive Compulsive Disorder among Adults. https://www.nimh.nih.gov/health/statistics/prevalence/obsessive-compulsive-disorder-among-adults.shtml. Accessed January 19, 2017.
- Jahanbakhsh SP, Manteghi AA, Emami SA, et al. Evaluation of the efficacy of Withania somnifera (Ashwagandha) root extract in patients with obsessive-compulsive disorder: A randomized double-blind placebo-controlled trial. Complementary Therapies in Medicine. 2016;27:25-29.
- Pigott TA, Seay SM. A review of the efficacy of selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors in obsessive-compulsive disorder. The Journal of clinical psychiatry. 1999.
- Bhattacharya S, Bhattacharya A, Sairam K, Ghosal S. Anxiolytic-antidepressant activity of Withania somnifera glycowithanolides: an experimental study. Phytomedicine. 2000;7(6):463-469.
