Some research studies have found evidence to suggest that oxytocin is associated with OCD. We review the growing evidence that suggests oxytocin and gonadal steroids might play a role in the pathogenesis of some forms of OCD.
Is OCD Caused by a Chemical Imbalance? Changes in the neurochemical serotonin, as well as in the neurochemicals dopamine and glutamate, are likely present in OCD. Indeed, medications like the antidepressants known as selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) improve symptoms for many people.
Combined this evidence suggests that OCD may be associated with both increased and decreased dopamine signaling, or that a unidirectional model may not be adequate.
The existing evidence shows that gonadal hormones can have profound impacts on neurotransmission in the brain, leading to the conclusion that the hormonal fluctuations during reproductive events are a plausible factor contributing to the change in OCD course during these times.
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Obsessive compulsive disorder, or OCD, is an anxiety disorder which, like many anxiety disorders, is marked by low levels of serotonin. Serotonin, a type of neurotransmitter, has a variety of functions that make a deficiency a serious and anxiety producing issue.
Vitamin D. Previous studies have demonstrated that vitamin D deficiency is associated with numerous neuropsychiatric diseases that include autism, major depressive disorder, schizophrenia and OCD.
OCD may involve damped dopamine-receptor activity and also increased dopamine activity in some areas of the brain.
Glutamate and GABA are neurotransmitters involved in OCD, with elevated glutamate levels potentially being a biomarker for the disorder. Specific brain regions, such as the SMA and ACC, show neurochemical changes associated with compulsive behavior in individuals with OCD.
Often, OCD symptoms get worse when there is a flare-up of anxiety or stressors. When one is in a stressful or anxiety-inducing situation, the urge to decrease that discomfort with compulsions or rituals gets stronger and harder to control.
Women who have too much estrogen may be treated with progesterone therapy. However, even women with normal overall hormone levels may still notice an increase of intrusive thoughts before their period due to fluctuation in their estrogen levels.
Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scans conducted to compare the volumes of different brain regions in people with and without OCD have found smaller volumes of the orbitofrontal cortex and the anterior cingulate cortex in individuals with OCD.
However, recent studies have linked obsessive-compulsive disorder to imbalances in brain chemistry. These changes usually involve serotonin, which controls moods and feelings. Then there is always the genetic link.
A consistent pattern emerged from the combined data: Compared with healthy volunteers, people with OCD had far more activity in the specific brain areas involved in recognizing that they were making an error, but less activity in the areas that could help them stop.
Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors (SSRIs) work well to help control OCD symptoms. Serotonin-Norepinephrine Reuptake Inhibitors (SNRIs) are another type of antidepressant that can be helpful to people suffering from OCD symptoms. The following antidepressants are FDA approved to treat OCD: Anafranil (clomipramine)
Therefore, the most effective way to increase your serotonin levels and ease your OCD symptoms is to consume both tryptophan-containing, protein-rich foods, and healthy complex carbohydrates. Mindfulness meditation can help you become more “self-aware” or aware of what is happening in and around you.
Dopamine receptor antagonists have been clinically used to treat OCD symptoms, including repetitive behavior (34–36).
Experts aren't sure of the exact cause of OCD. Genetics, brain abnormalities, and the environment are thought to play a role. It often starts in the teens or early adulthood. But, it can also start in childhood.
Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) has been linked to altered neurological function following head trauma, encephalitis, abnormal birth events, and Gilles de la Tourette's syndrome.
These parts of the brain primarily use serotonin to communicate. This is why increasing the levels of serotonin in the brain can help to alleviate OCD symptoms. However, even though researchers know that low levels of serotonin can cause OCD symptoms, there is no laboratory test to diagnose OCD.
Vitamin B12 and folate are thought to be effective in OCD treatment due to their associations with neurotransmitters. Depending on their antioxidant effect, zinc and selenium can be used in augmentation therapy for OCD. However, both trace elements and vitamin B12/folate can be affected by diet.
It is well-recognised that consuming a lot of sugary foods and drinks — such as soda, candy, chocolate, fruit drinks, desserts and other sweets — can cause blood sugar fluctuations. The “sugar high” triggers OCD symptoms like exhaustion, mood swings, and anxiety neurosis.
OCD has peaks of onset at two different life phases: pre-adolescence and early adulthood. Around the ages of 10 to 12 years, the first peak of OCD cases occur. This time frequently coincides with increasing school and performance pressures, in addition to biologic changes of brain and body that accompany puberty.
Imaging, surgical, and lesion studies suggest that the prefrontal cortex (orbitofrontal and anterior cingulate cortexes), basal ganglia, and thalamus are involved in the pathogenesis of obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD).