Neural mechanisms bio OCD

• Neural relates to brain structures or neurotransmitters
• Dopamine levels may be abnormally high in people with OCD as research shows giving animals drugs which enhance dopamine lead to stereotyped repetitive movements like compulsions
• Serotonin is thought to play an important role in OCD and sufferers are thought to have lower levels than normal. Research shows giving OCD sufferers antidepressants reduces OCD symptoms
• It has been shown that OCD sufferers have abnormalities in the functioning of their brain. It is thought that there is an abnormality circuit in the brain involving the orbitofrontal Cortex, the caudate nucleus, thalamus, and back to the orbitofrontal Cortex. Surgery in this circuit e.g. lesion leads to an improvement in symptoms in patients unresponsive to other treatments
• It is thought that the orbitofrontal Cortex notices when things are wrong and sends worry signals. In OCD suffering is suggested the caudate nucleus is faulty and therefore does not suppress these signals and carries the message into the thalamus which allows it to become a worry circuit