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Obsessive-compulsive disorder and immunocompetence.

W M Dinn1, C L Harris, K M McGonigal

  • 1Boston University, Massachusetts, USA. dinn@bu.edu

International Journal of Psychiatry in Medicine
|February 14, 2002
PubMed
Summary
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Adults with obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) show higher rates of immune-related conditions. This suggests a potential link between immune system dysfunction and OCD development in adults, supporting the postinfectious autoimmune model.

Area of Science:

  • Neuroimmunology
  • Psychiatry
  • Autoimmune Disorders

Background:

  • A postinfectious autoimmune response, involving antistreptococcal antibodies targeting basal ganglia neurons, is a proposed mechanism for pediatric obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD).
  • This autoimmune reaction may disrupt basal ganglia-thalamocortical circuits, leading to OCD symptoms.
  • Prolonged immunologic stress could be a risk factor for OCD by compromising the blood-brain barrier.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the association between adult OCD and compromised immune function.
  • To determine if adult OCD patients exhibit a higher incidence of recurrent infections and immune-related conditions compared to other psychiatric groups.

Main Methods:

  • A medical records review of 100 patients at a psychiatric clinic specializing in anxiety disorders.

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  • Included 65 patients with Axis-I syndromes, with primary diagnoses of OCD, PTSD, social anxiety, GAD, panic disorder, and dysthymia.
  • Records were analyzed for immune-related symptoms and syndromes.

    • Main Results:

    • OCD patients demonstrated a significantly increased rate of immune-related symptoms and syndromes.
    • No significant differences were found in non-immune symptoms and syndromes between groups.
    • Findings support an elevated incidence of immune-related diseases in adult OCD patients.

    Conclusions:

    • Adult OCD patients exhibit a higher prevalence of immune-related diseases compared to other psychiatric disorders.
    • This supports the hypothesis linking immune dysfunction to OCD in adults.
    • Further research into the neuroimmunological underpinnings of OCD is warranted.