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Exploring the neurobiology of OCD: clinical implications

Accepted version
Peer-reviewed

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Article

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Authors

Chamberlain, Samuel  ORCID logo  https://orcid.org/0000-0001-7014-8121
Grant, Jon 

Abstract

Introduction

Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) is a common neuropsychiatric condition, affecting 1-2% of the population globally. Despite considerable heterogeneity in the precise symptoms experienced across different patients (e.g., some patients are preoccupied with worries of contamination, whereas others obsess about symmetry), there is growing realization that common neurobiological processes may contribute to vulnerability towards OCD and its persistence. OCD is regarded as the archetypal disorder of compulsivity (i.e. a tendency towards repetitive habitual actions that a person feels a need to perform, with these tendencies having untoward functional consequences, such as detracting from overall life goals, or quality of life). Although the optimal definition of compulsivity likely depends upon perspective and context1, within this broad clinical framework, disorders of compulsivity include OCD and related disorders such as hoarding disorder, body dysmorphic disorder, trichotillomania, skin picking disorder, and Tourette’s2. Here we focus on recent advances in understanding the neurobiology of OCD, and the clinical implications of such knowledge viewed in the context of prevailing disease models.

Description

Keywords

32 Biomedical and Clinical Sciences, 3202 Clinical Sciences

Journal Title

Psychiatric Times

Conference Name

Journal ISSN

0893-2905

Volume Title

Publisher

MultiMedia Healthcare

Publisher DOI

Rights

All rights reserved
Sponsorship
Wellcome Trust (110049/Z/15/Z)