Four Genes Linked to OCD

Last month (October 2017), a team of researchers from Broad Institute published a study in Nature Communication which truly delves into the biology of obsessive-compulsive disorder. They used a multispecies comparison between dogs, mice, and humans who suffer from compulsive behavior disorders, and by doing this, were able to identify new genes and biological pathways associated with OCD. The genes in question are involved in synapse maintenance and neurotransmitter signaling, suggesting potential mechanisms at work in the disorder. Hyun Ji Noh, a postdoctoral associate who led the study, says: “We were seeking ways to take advantage of information from other species in order to inform and focus the study in humans. Each additional species that we looked at gave us more information about possible factors in the brain that contribute to OCD.” Using genetic associations noted in previous studies of OCD in humans, compulsive behavior in mice, and dogs with canine compulsive disorder, Noh’s team compiled an array of approximately 600 genes that appeared to have some type of connection to OCD. People with OCD often cannot stop performing compulsions, such as checking locks, cleaning, or seeking reassurance. In animals such as dogs, compulsions might involve chasing their tails or shadows for hours at a time, or not being able to stop chewing themselves. They then designed targeted sequencing panels for these genes and examined them in more than 1,300 cases a...
Source: World of Psychology - Category: Psychiatry & Psychology Authors: Tags: OCD Research Treatment Exposure and Response Prevention Genetic Research Genetics Obsessive Compulsive Disorder Source Type: blogs