This mechanism may explain the subgroup of children in whom OCD develops after a streptococcal infection, and worsens with recurrent infections. Chemical and brain dysfunction. A single copy of these materials may be reprinted for noncommercial personal use only. The precise nature of the compulsions and obsessions is unique. S However, despite a proliferation of studies, and dozens of potential gene candidates suggested, researchers have so far failed to identify a consistent candidate gene responsible for OCD. Researchers argued that it was necessary to tackle avoidance behaviours directly by ensuring that compulsions did not take place within or between treatment sessions. 2. OCDmay be a result of changes in your body's own natural chemistry or brain functions. Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD). It’s likely that a number of factors are involved in its development. This research later proposed that ritualistic behaviours were a form of learned avoidance. However, people with OCD often have an inflated sense of responsibility and misinterpret these thoughts as being very important and significant which could lead to catastrophic consequences. What this suggests is that genetics may not be the only cause of OCD (if at all), and  that family prevalence of OCD could be learned behaviours in some cases. Sawchuk CN (expert opinion). Causes . Brain imaging studies have consistently demonstrated differing blood flow patterns among people with OCD compared with controls, and the cortical and basal ganglia regions are most strongly implicated. More specifically, they believe that compulsions are actually learned responses that help an individual reduce or prevent anxiety or discomfort associated with obsessions or urges. OCDmay have a genetic component, but specific genes have yet to be identified. Environmental Causes of OCD: According to the research, if you or someone in your vicinity have undergone TBI (Traumatic Brain Injury), their chances of suffering from OCD are higher. Environmental Factors Stressful life events can trigger OCD in … Brain imaging studies have shown the brains of some people with OCD can be different from the brains of people who do not have the condition. It is therefore not surprising that there are brain activation differences between people with OCD and those without; this does not mean that OCD is a biological disease. Accessed Sept. 3, 2019. It is thought that the body’s natural response to infection, the production of certain antibodies, when directed to parts of the brain might be linked in some way to Paediatric Autoimmune Neuropsychiatric Disorders associated with Streptococcal Infection (PANDAS). National Institute of Mental Health. A number of other factors may play a role in the onset of OCD, including behavioral, cognitive, and environmental factors. Research has revealed a great deal about the psychological factors that maintain OCD, which in turn has led to effective psychological treatment in the form of Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT). If your obsessions and compulsions are affecting your quality of life, see your doctor or mental health professional. Main theories include: 1. However, there are plenty of theories surrounding the potential causes of OCD, involving one of or a combination of either; neurobiological, genetic, learned behaviours, pregnancy, environmental factors or specific events that trigger the disorder in a specific individual at a particular point in time. Merck Manual Professional Version. Stress and parenting styles are environmental factors that have been blamed for causing OCD, but no evidence is yet to show that. Any cookies that may not be particularly necessary for the website to function and is used specifically to collect user personal data via analytics, ads, other embedded contents are termed as non-necessary cookies. This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. Even environmental stressors of either of the 4 types (cataclysmic, stressful life events, daily troubles, and ambient stressors) are known to trigger OCD in an individual. For example, according to the Learning Theory, OCD symptoms are a result of a person developing learned negative thoughts and behaviour patterns, towards previously neutral situations which can result from life experiences. OCD thoughts aren't simply excessive worries about real problems in your life or liking to have things clean or arranged in a specific way. 2019; doi:10.1016/bs.apha.2019.04.003. 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