Recent advances in the genetics of obsessive-compulsive disorder.

Full Abstract

This article reviews recent developments in understanding the genetic etiology of obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD). Family studies provide further support for the familial aggregation of OCD. Genome-wide linkage studies indicate that specific chromosomal regions are linked to OCD. Moreover, results from recent molecular genetic studies suggest that several candidate genes are associated with OCD. However, specific genes causing OCD have not been conclusively identified, and the molecular pathogenesis of the disorder has not been elucidated. The search for genes is complicated by the clinical and etiologic heterogeneity of OCD, as well as the possibility of gene-gene and gene-environment interactions. Despite this complexity, further refinement of the phenotype and developments in molecular and statistical genetics hold promise for further deepening our genetic understanding of OCD in the future.

Author information

Author/s: Samuels, Jack F (JF);

Affiliation: Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, The Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, 1629 Thames Street, Suite 401, Baltimore, MD 21231, USA. jacks(-atsign-)jhmi.edu

Journal and publication information

Publication Type: Journal Article; Review

Journal: Current psychiatry reports (Curr Psychiatry Rep), published in United States. (Language: eng)

Reference: 2009-Aug; vol 11 (issue 4) : pp 277-82

Dates: Created 2009/07/28; Completed 2009/09/15;

PMID: 19635235, status: MEDLINE (last retrieval date: 9/15/2009, IMS Date: )

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