A small study involving 13 patients, published in the American Journal of Psychiatry (September, 1996) showed that inositol may be useful for patients with obsessive-compulsive disorder. It was a double-blind, placebo-controlled crossover study. One group of subjects was given 18 grams per day of inositol. After six weeks, the group taking the inositol had a significantly lower score on the Yale-Brown Obsessive Compulsive Scale than did the placebo group.

What research supports inositol

  • The 1996 double-blind, placebo-controlled cross-over trial of 18 g/day inositol for 6 weeks in 13 patients with OCD found significantly lower scores on the Yale‑Brown Obsessive Compulsive Scale (Y-BOCS) when on inositol vs. placebo. PubMed+1

  • A broader review (controlled trials in psychiatry, 1997) concluded that inositol showed beneficial effects in disorders often treated with SSRIs — including depression, panic disorder, and OCD. PubMed+1

  • More recent reviews continue to mention inositol as a “potentially useful” supplement for OCD and related conditions, noting its relatively favorable safety profile compared to many psychiatric drugs. ScienceDirect+2MDPI+2

In short: yes, there are multiple clinical trials and reviews suggesting inositol may help some individuals with OCD, panic disorder, or depression. Its proposed mechanism involves modulation of neurotransmitter signaling (the inositol cycle is a key intracellular “second messenger” system). ScienceDirect+1

What you should keep in mind (if considering it)

  • Doses in clinical trials for OCD tended to be very high — often 12–18 g/day, far above what you’d get from diet alone. PubMed+2ScienceDirect+2

  • High doses may increase risk of side effects (gastrointestinal discomfort, etc.). EBSCO+1

  • Because evidence is mixed and not definitive, inositol — if used — should be viewed as adjunctive or experimental, not a guaranteed therapy.