OCD

A recent study finds that people with obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) have a higher risk of death from both natural and unnatural causes than those without OCD, highlighting the importance of improved prevention and intervention strategies.Experts call for enhanced monitoring, preventative measures, and early response tactics.A study from Sweden, recently published in The BMJ, suggests that individuals diagnosed with obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) might face a higher risk of mortality from natural as well as…

American Amber Pearson used to wash her hands until they bled, terrified by the idea of contamination from everyday items, a debilitating result of her obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD).But the repetitive rituals of her condition are largely consigned to memory, thanks to a revolutionary brain implant that is being used to treat both her epilepsy and her OCD."I'm actually present in my daily life and that's incredible," the 34-year-old told AFP."Before, I was just constantly in my head worrying about my…

People with obsessive-compulsive disorder, or OCD for short, are 82 percent more likely to die earlier – from natural or unnatural causes – than people without the condition, a new study reveals.Previous studies have found excess deaths in people with OCD, but the specific causes of death had been poorly researched – maybe with the exception of suicide. Notably, people with OCD have similar suicide rates to people with other mental health disorders.OCD affects about 2 percent of the population. People with the condition…

A new study highlights the role of brain cells called microglia in controlling anxiety and obsessive-compulsive behaviors. This research refutes the old idea that only neurons control behavior and suggests microglia-neuron communication as a potential therapeutic target.The surge in anxiety experienced in the wake of the pandemic remains unprecedented, yet the origin of anxiety-related disorders, such as obsessive-compulsive spectrum disorder (OCSD), remains elusive. In a new study, scientists from the University of Utah…

For many actors, the thought of playing Elizabeth Taylor at the National Theatre would be unnerving enough. But for Tuppence Middleton, who hadn’t done much stage work, it must have felt even more daunting. Not least because the job came up just three months after the birth of her child. But Middleton likes a challenge, and you don’t turn down the chance to be directed by Sam Mendes.“I wasn’t really thinking about work at that point,” she says, “but I knew my daughter would be eight months by the time we started, so I…

A study conducted by the University of Utah Health scientists has revealed the significant role of microglia, a minor cell type in the brain, in controlling anxiety-related behaviors. The study discovered that certain populations of microglia can trigger anxiety and obsessive-compulsive spectrum disorder (OCSD) behaviors, while others inhibit them. This groundbreaking research refutes the previous belief that neurons, the predominant brain cell type, are the sole controllers of behavior.University of Utah Health…

An astrocyte from the striatum. Researchers from the University of California, Los Angeles Health found that astrocytes, star-shaped “helper” cells that support neurons, may play a significant role in obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD). By studying proteins expressed by neurons and astrocytes in mice, the team discovered that a protein associated with OCD in neurons was also found in astrocytes, suggesting that treatments targeting both cell types could be beneficial for OCD and other brain disorders. The striatum, a…

Obsessive compulsive disorder, or OCD, is a misunderstoodmental illness despite affecting about one in 50 people – that's about half a million Australians.Our new research shows how long and fraught the path to diagnosis and treatment can be.This initial study showed it takes an average of almost nine years to receive a diagnosis of OCD and about four months to get some form of help.What is OCD?OCD affects children, adolescents and adults. About 60 percent report symptoms before the age of 20.One misconception is that…

Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) is a mental health condition characterized by unwanted and recurring thoughts, impulses, or images (obsessions) that lead to repetitive behaviors or mental acts (compulsions) in an effort to reduce anxiety or distress.A new study links screen time to OCD. A recent national study led by researchers at the University of California, San Francisco (UCSF) published in the Journal of Adolescent Health, reveals that the use of screens during the holiday season may have negative effects on…

OCD is characterized by a pattern of unwanted thoughts and fears (obsessions) that cause you to engage in repetitive behaviors (compulsions).Two-thirds of individuals treated have shown significant improvement, with a nearly 50% reduction in symptoms.The symptoms of severe obsessive-compulsive disorder, or OCD as it is more popularly known, may be reduced by half with deep brain stimulation, according to a pooled data analysis of the available data, which was recently published in the Journal of Neurology, Neurosurgery,…