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).
A brain region known as the striatum, which is involved in decision-making and motor control, is thought to play a key role in OCD. That is exactly the area of the brain the UCLA researchers studied when they sought to examine the interactions between astrocytes and neurons.
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.
Compared with those without the condition, the people with OCD had less activity in their ventromedial prefrontal cortex, an area of the brain involved in signalling safety and predicting rewards.
Most research has focused on the brain's executive control center, the prefrontal cortex, as the area responsible for managing thoughts – both the directed kind and the persistent, intrusive kind.
By studying hundreds of brain scans, U-M researchers identify abnormalities common to people who suffer from obsessive-compulsive disorder. They clean their hands, many times in a row.
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.
There is growing evidence that the major basis of OCD is in the brain and nervous system.
Neuroimaging plays an important role in establishing obsessive compulsive manifestations after a traumatic brain injury. OCD patients who had suffered a traumatic brain injury, were reported with lesions in frontal and subcortical areas.
The inheritance pattern of OCD is unclear. Overall, the risk of developing this condition is greater for first-degree relatives of affected individuals (such as siblings or children) as compared to the general public.
Research suggests that OCD involves problems in communication between the front part of the brain and deeper structures of the brain. These brain structures use a neurotransmitter (basically, a chemical messenger) called serotonin.
Trauma, stress, and abuse all can be a cause of OCD getting worse. OCD causes intense urges to complete a task or perform a ritual. For those who have the condition, obsessions and compulsions can begin to rule their life.
Preclinical, neuroimaging and neurochemical studies have provided evidence demonstrating that the dopaminergic system is involved in inducing or aggravating the symptoms that are indicative of OCD.
Is OCD a brain disorder? Yes, OCD is now classified as a brain disorder, not just an anxiety disorder. This follows a more accurate understanding of how the condition affects brain mechanisms and how patients struggle to control their impulses and compulsive behavior.
Some studies have suggested abnormal immune cell activation and cytokine production in both adults and children with OCD, suggesting inflammation may be one possible cause of their psychiatric symptoms (3,4).
The onset of OCD is not limited to the original meaning of trauma; rather, traumatic experiences such as unexpected exposure to contaminants or various stressful life events often cause the onset of OCD.
A person with damage to the prefrontal cortex might have blunted emotional responses, for instance. They might even become more aggressive and irritable, and struggle to initiate activities. Finally, they might perform poorly on tasks that require long-term planning and impulse inhibition.
Put simply, the study suggests that the brains of OCD patients get stuck in a loop of “wrongness” that prevents sufferers from stopping behaviors even if they know they should.
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.
Individuals with OCD may also have other mental health conditions such as depression, attention deficit disorder/hyperactivity disorder (ADD/ADHD), anxiety, Asperger syndrome, eating disorders and Tourette syndrome (TS).
Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) can sometimes be difficult to treat with medication and psychotherapy. For these patients, we may employ deep brain stimulation (DBS), an advanced surgical treatment that uses electrical impulses.
In obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), the success of pharmacological treatment with serotonin re-uptake inhibitors and atypical antipsychotic drugs suggests that both the central serotonergic and dopaminergic systems are involved in the pathophysiology of the disorder.
Researchers know that OCD is triggered by communication problems between the brain's deeper structures and the front part of the brain. 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.
Presentation. Primarily obsessional OCD has been called "one of the most distressing and challenging forms of OCD."