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Updated: Aug 18, 2026
Controlled Cortical Impact Model for Traumatic Brain Injury
Published on: August 5, 2014
Obsessive-compulsive disorder following brain injury: a review
1North Wales Brain Injury Service, Conwy & Denbighshire NHS Trust, Colwyn Bay Hospital, United Kingdom. Rudi.Coetzer@cd-tr.wales.nhs.uk
Objective:
This article reviews obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) following acquired brain injury. OCD type symptomatology without any other cognitive, behavioral, or emotional problems following a brain injury appears to be rare. However, the first onset of obsessions and compulsions following a brain injury has been described, but cognitive impairments can potentially color the presentation.
Method:
This article reviews obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) after brain injury, including traumatic brain injury, cerebrovascular accidents, brain tumors and brain infections. Overlapping symtomatology between OCD and brain injury is discussed.
Results:
Findings regarding the neuro-imaging of OCD after brain injury are reviewed and integrated with neuropsychological data from studies with idiopathic OCD.
Conclusion:
There appears to be some convergance between findings from studies of the neuropsychology of idiopathic OCD and neuro-imaging of OCD following brain injury.
