Neurotrophic Factors in OCD
Over the past two decades much progress had been made with respect to elucidating the neurobiological origins of OCD. A study published in the journal Psychiatry Research sought to determine the relationship between OCD and levels of neurotrophic factors; neurotrophic factors are chemicals that enhance the growth of nerve cells. In this study, levels of the neurotrophic factors Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor (BDNF), Nerve Growth Factor (NGF), and Glial Cell-Derived Neurotrophic Factor (GNDF) were measured. It was found that in comparison to the control group, patients with OCD had significantly lower levels of BDNF and significantly higher levels of NGF. Lower levels of BDNF predicted number of working days lost to OCD symptoms. Higher levels of NGF and GNDF predicted more severe OCD symptoms. As this study was largely correlational in nature it cannot be concluded that OCD is caused by such a neutrophin profile; however, these results certainly suggest that further research in this area is warranted.
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Adding Lamotrigine to Standard OCD Treatment Improves Outcomes
Although medication can bring relief to many with OCD symptoms, roughly one-third of individuals are not able to benefit from standard treatments. A recent study in the Journal of Psychopharmacology sought to investigate whether adding the drug lamotrigine to standard treatment with serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SRIs) would improve OCD symptoms. Using a double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled design the study authors found that adding lamotrigine to standard treatment with SRIs significantly improved OCD symptoms compared to treatment with an SRI and placebo. Although they used a small sample size, these results suggest that lamotragine may help treatment-resistant OCD.
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Scrupulosity and OCD
A recent study in the Journal of Clinical Psychology sought to examine how OCD obsessions related to religious or moral fears impacted on individual's selection of treatment providers, their day-to-day religious experiences and conceptions of God. In this study, 72 individuals with scrupulous OCD and 72 individuals with non-scrupulous OCD completed an online survey. Overall, the investigators found that severity of symptoms was equal across the two groups. Perhaps unsurprisingly, the individuals with scrupulous OCD were more religious, more likely to seek pastoral counseling, less likely to seek medication treatment, and more likely to report that symptoms interfered with their religious experience. Among individuals with scrupulous OCD, the more negative the concept of God held by the individual, the more severe their symptoms. Interestingly, about 20% of the sample with scrupulous OCD did not report any specific religious affiliation.
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Adding CBT to Medication Improves Outcomes in Pediatric OCD
Although selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) can be helpful in reducing the intensity and frequency of OCD symptoms in children, many cases of pediatric OCD are only partially responsive to medication. As such, a recent study in the Journal of the American Medical Association sought to examine whether adding CBT to standard medical treatment with SSRIs improved outcomes in individuals ages 7 to 17 with OCD. Using a randomized control design the investigators found that the addition of CBT to the standard medication protocol yielded a significantly better response rate than medication alone.
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OCD and Stressful Life Events
Like all forms of mental illness, symptoms of OCD are often triggered or exacerbated by stressful events. A recent study in the Israel Journal of Psychiatric and Related Sciences sought to examine the relationship between OCD symptoms and stressful events. Comparing people with and without OCD, this investigation found that life events were significantly more frequent in OCD patients, as compared to healthy controls. Importantly, the severity of OCD symptoms was directly proportional to the number of stressful life events experienced in the last six months prior to symptom onset. As this study was correlational, it difficult to make statements about causation. Indeed, it is possible that the onset of OCD symptoms may cause stressful live events to occur (e.g., missing work; difficulties in relationships), and hence the relationship.
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The Long-Term Impact of Symptoms of Depression on OCD Treatment
It is an unfortunate reality that OCD is often accompanied by major depressive disorder. This is clinically significant as the presence of symptoms of depression can often hamper successful OCD treatment. A recent study in the Journal of Affective Disorders sought to examine the impact of symptoms of depression on long-term outcomes in OCD treatment. Interestingly, the authors found that symptoms of depression were not predictive of treatment for up to 5 years of follow-up. In addition, it was found that OCD symptoms largely predicted changes in depressive symptoms but not the other way around. Based on these results, the authors of the study suggest that treatment for OCD with co-morbid depression should focus primarily on alleviating symptoms of OCD, the theory being that if OCD treatment is successful symptoms of depression are also likely to improve.
What are Your Symptoms?
There are at least 5 different types of OCD symptoms such as hoarding, obsessive thoughts with no compulsions and symmetry obsessions. What are you symptoms and how do you deal with them? Share Your Experience
Does Exercise Help You Cope With Your OCD Symptoms?
Some recent studies suggest that adding exercise to your treatment package could be helpful for reducing OCD symptoms. Do you currently exercise? Have you found exercise helpful in reducing your OCD symptoms? If so, what kind of exercise have you found the most helpful? Share Your Experience
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OCD and Bipolar Disorder
It is now well established that OCD often occurs with bipolar disorder. A recent study in the journal Psychiatry and Clinical Neurosciences sought to elucidate differences between OCD with and without bipolar disorder. The study investigators found that when OCD occurs with bipolar disorder individuals tend to have i) symptoms that occur in clusters ii) a higher number of depressive episodes, greater suicidality and a higher rate of hospitalization iii) more idiosyncratic compulsions, and iv) poorer insight than when OCD occurs in the absence of bipolar disorder. Overall, these data suggest a greater severity of illness when OCD occurs with bipolar disorder which, of course, has important implications for the understanding and treatment of both illnesses. As the authors point out, genetic studies examining the link between OCD and bipolar disorder are an obvious next step.
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Coping With OCD and Depression
If you have OCD, you probably know that you are at a greater risk for developing other forms of mental illness. One of the most common mental illnesses to occur with OCD is major depressive disorder. Unfortunately, the presence of depression can often have a negative impact on the treatment of OCD symptoms. Have your OCD symptoms made you feel depressed from time to time? If so, what have you found effective for dealing with symptoms of depression? Share Your Experience.
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