OCD is generally hereditary, and we notice it in very little kids (even 7 years old, etc..), although it is typically not spotted until they mature. Parents normally believe the attitudes they witness are “strange,” and bluntly, children have plenty of peculiar actions – it’s occasionally difficult for parents to know what is genuinely chaotic.
There is a general perception that mental disorders are caused by a chemical abnormality. Of course, this is true! The brain is an organ in our body that functions based on chemistry, network and communication with tens and hundreds of cells within the system.
When there is an imbalance in any of these processes that are instigated due to genetics, trauma or other events, it results in the dysfunction of brain circuits ultimately resulting in mental disorders.1
What Is The Chemical Imbalance That Causes OCD?
Imbalances in the peptide serotonin (chemical nerve cells), as well as in the peptide dopamine and glutamate, probably exist in OCD. In Fact, treatments like the antidepressants known as Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) help aid symptoms for several OCD patients.
Numerous researches were conducted on animals and humans and the study states that imbalance in the varied peptide is partially responsible for triggering the obsessive-compulsive disorder. However, there is no proven evidence that chemical imbalance is the underlying cause of OCD.
SSRIs (Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors), which are class of drugs that affect serotonin, are known to reduce major depressive disorder in a good number of people with OCD. When serotonin levels are raised, you can find easy relief from OCD. Some of the factors that contribute to the development of OCD include
Heredity and environment are major contributors of OCD- When one of your family members is affected by the disorder, there is an increased risk of developing OCD. Also, the environment has a huge influence on developing the illness.
Behavior- Behavior also plays a crucial part in developing OCD especially when the individual is under stress.2,3
Can Obsessive-Compulsive Behavior Lead To Schizophrenia?
Individuals identified with OCD have a higher tendency to develop schizophrenia. Schizophrenia is a severe mental disorder that affects how a person thinks, feels, behaves and relates to others. OCD and schizophrenia are inter-related and exist in a greater percentage of patients. Medical studies state that schizophrenia was noticed in 23% of OCD patients.
Also, this research says that there is a long-term association between these two disorders. Although, they are independent of each other in their symptoms yet patients with both these disorders have a higher risk of distress and pain. Both syndromes affect men and women alike, and both most likely demonstrate with symptoms around the end of the teenage years.
Both are acute and enduring mental disorders;
Both syndromes are associated with deformities in brain framework and operation; 4,5
Researches also suggest that compulsions can alter into hallucinations and that OCD and symptoms of OCD can be correlated with the progress of mental illness over time.
However, some OCD patients though showed symptoms of schizophrenia, still were not diagnosed with this condition. This eventually influenced all other research studies.
In addition, the research team of the Aarhus University in Denmark led by Sandra M. Meier, Ph.D. pointed out that patient diagnosis of OCD, schizophrenia and schizophrenia band syndromes was carried exclusively from regularly obtained proven theories, which could have been imperfect.
Although this is not always the case, of course, it does deliver a structure by which therapists can personally diagnose and take care of the two co-occurring illnesses. 6.
- The Different Causes of Developing OCD https://www.verywellmind.com/is-ocd-caused-by-a-chemical-imbalance-2510485/
- What neurotransmitter is associated with OCD? https://www.psychguides.com/ocd/
- OCD and Chemical Imbalance – OCD Reflections https://blogs.psychcentral.com/ocd-reflections/2016/04/ocd-and-chemical-imbalance/
- Is OCD a risk factor for schizophrenia? https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/281860.php#1
- The Link Between OCD and Schizophrenia https://www.verywellmind.com/ocd-and-schizophrenia-2510586
- Schizophrenia and OCD: A Consideration of Schizo-Obsessive Disorder https://iocdf.org/expert-opinions/schizophrenia-and-ocd-a-consideration-of-schizo-obsessive-disorder/
Also Read:
- OCD: Types, Causes, Signs, Symptoms, Treatment, Tests, Risk Factors
- Treatment For Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder or OCD
- Do’s and Don’ts While Helping Someone with Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder or OCD
- Different Types of OCD
- How to know if you have OCD?
- How Long Does OCD Last & Ways to Overcome it?
- Is OCD A Mood Disorder?
