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Obsessive-compulsive disorder and rheumatic chorea: is there a connection?
1Department of Psychiatry, National Institute of Mental Health and Neurosciences, Bangalore, India.
Psychopathology
|January 1, 1996
Summary
Basal ganglion dysfunction is implicated in obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD). However, caudate dysfunction alone doesn't fully explain OCD, suggesting other brain regions are also involved.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Psychiatry
- Neurology
Background:
- Growing evidence links basal ganglia to obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) pathogenesis.
- Rheumatic chorea is a condition affecting the basal ganglia.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the role of basal ganglia, specifically the caudate nucleus, in OCD.
- To assess the correlation between rheumatic chorea and OCD symptoms.
Main Methods:
- Evaluated 20 subjects with rheumatic chorea for OCD presence.
- Utilized Leyton's Obsessional Inventory for symptom assessment.
Main Results:
- Four out of 20 subjects (20%) with rheumatic chorea met criteria for OCD.
- The study group exhibited significantly higher scores on all Leyton's Obsessional Inventory scales compared to controls (implied).
Conclusions:
- Caudate nucleus dysfunction alone is insufficient to cause obsessive-compulsive behavior.
- Obsessive-compulsive disorder likely involves dysfunction in additional basal ganglia regions and their rostral connections.