OBSESSIVE COMPULSIVE DISORDER

OCD belongs to the group of personality disorders and is characterized by recurrent uncomfortable thoughts (obsessions) and/or repetitive behaviours (compulsions). Altered levels of neurotransmitters like serotonin, norepinephrine, dopamine and glutamate have been observed to be responsible for this condition. Various brain areas including orbitofrontal cortex, caudate nucleus and cingulated cortex shows dysfunction in OCD patients, thus contributing to the pathophysiology. The most effective lines of treatment present today are pharmacotherapy and cognitive behavioural therapy. Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors like fluvoxamine, fluoxetine, sertraline etc are the first line of drugs. In subjects who are not responsive, other drugs like tricyclic antidepressants, SNRIs, SARIs and MAOIs are tried. But for a better prognosis, pharmacotherapy and cognitive behavioral therapy are practiced simultaneously. In patients who are resistant to all the above mentioned treatments, electro convulsive therapy or psychosurgery can be tried. Key words: Obsessive compulsive disorder, serotonin, noradrenaline, cognitive behavioural therapy.