Obsessive-compulsive symptoms in neurologic disease: a review

Area of Science:

• Neuroscience
• Psychiatry

Background:

• Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) affects 2-3% of the population.
• Previously considered psychodynamic, OCD is now understood to have neurobiological underpinnings.
• OCD symptoms are frequently observed in patients with known neurological diseases.

Purpose of the Study:

• To review cases of obsessive-compulsive symptoms linked to neurological conditions.
• To outline current knowledge on the neurobiology of OCD.
• To propose a theory on the pathophysiology of OCD, both in isolation and secondary to neurological illness.

Main Methods:

• Literature review of reported cases.
• Synthesis of existing neurobiological data on OCD.
• Development of a theoretical model for OCD pathophysiology.

Main Results:

• Numerous instances of OCD symptoms associated with neurological diseases have been documented.
• Significant insights into the neurobiology of OCD have been gathered.
• A theoretical framework for understanding OCD's pathophysiology is presented.

Conclusions:

• OCD likely stems from neurobiological factors.
• Neurological diseases can trigger or manifest as OCD symptoms.
• The proposed theory integrates findings on OCD's neurobiology and its association with neurological conditions.