A small brain-shaped cloud and spirals that seem to wind endlessly appear on the front page of the September 14 issue of New ScientistThey symbolize the obsessive thoughts and constantly repeated gestures of people suffering from obsessive compulsive disorder, or OCD – 1 to 3% of the population is affected.
In a long article, journalist Anthea Rowan, whose daughter suffers from OCD, reviews what is known about these disorders. Complex, they are often poorly understood, and the number of treatment options is limited. But there is new hope because, the journalist writes, “Discoveries in recent years have shed light on the mechanisms in the brain and body that trigger them, revealing a complex picture that includes genetics, certain brain networks, the immune system and even the bacteria in our intestines.”.
In addition to studies published in recent years, the article reviews ongoing research on the topic. For example, in a publication posted online in March that has not yet been peer-reviewed, researchers identified 15 genetic signatures associated with OCD, including a protein that influences brain development and function.
Further work, the results of which will be presented soon, according to New Scientistadd to a growing body of evidence that the immune system plays a role as a factor in OCD.
Take back control
But above all, these advances make it possible to consider new treatments, some of which are already the subject of clinical trials. Substances such as ketamine or psilocybin seem to have a positive effect on some people suffering from OCD. “However, the addictive nature of ketamine and its side effects mean that it is not a miracle cure,” insists the journalist.
Other techniques based on brain stimulation also seem promising, while some are looking into the path of diet. Modifying it would make it possible to try to intervene on the intestinal flora, which would also be involved in these disorders.
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