Elif Betül AYDOĞAN, Zeynep Kübra GÖKSU, Ali KARAYAĞMURLU
Klinik Psikiyatri Dergisi - 2026;29(3):250-254
Valproic acid is a mood stabilizer and antiepileptic drug that acts through GABA and glutamate. Glutamatergic and GABAergic dysfunction is thought to be a common mechanism in the pathophysiology of autism spectrum disorder and obsessive-compulsive disorder. The use of valproic acid may be effective in treatment-resistant cases of obsessive-compulsive disorder associated with autism. A 15-year-old male with autism was administered 2 types of SSRIs in appropriate doses and duration separately for OCD. Aripiprazole was added to the treatment of the patient whose obsessive-compulsive disorder symptoms did not decrease. The patient who responded partially to augmentation was started on valproic acid. The patient's obsessive-compulsive disorder complaints decreased significantly after valproic acid treatment, and his functionality improved. The valproic acid blood level was 68 mg/L. While the Children's Yale Brown Obsessive Compulsive Scale score was 36 points before valproic acid treatment, the score decreased to 19 points after 2 months of valproic acid treatment. GABAergic agents such as valproic acid may be considered for treatment-resistant obsessive-compulsive disorder in autism.
