A recent study from Yale University suggests that the immune system may play a role in obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) in children. Researchers found that certain antibodies in the body may attack specific brain cells, leading to symptoms of OCD.
This discovery provides new insight into the causes of some mental health disorders and may help explain a condition known as PANDAS (Pediatric Autoimmune Neuropsychiatric Disorders Associated with Streptococcal Infections). PANDAS was first identified in the 1990s and is believed to be triggered by strep infections. However, scientists have struggled to understand exactly how it develops.
Children with PANDAS often experience symptoms of OCD, such as compulsive behaviors and intrusive thoughts.
However, they may also have other problems, including extreme separation anxiety, difficulty with motor movements, frequent urination, and even refusal to eat. While 1% to 3% of children are diagnosed with OCD by age 17, it is unclear how many of these cases are linked to PANDAS.
Some doctors believe that there is not enough scientific evidence to consider PANDAS a separate condition from OCD. However, many parents and researchers argue that it could explain a significant number of OCD cases in children.
To better understand the disorder, scientists studied 27 children diagnosed with PANDAS and compared them to 23 healthy children. They discovered that many children with PANDAS had high levels of antibodies that attack specific brain cells called interneurons. These cells play a key role in controlling signals in the brain.
The researchers found that these harmful antibodies were concentrated in the striatum, a part of the brain involved in movement control and linked to OCD. When the antibodies attach to interneurons, they seem to weaken the cells, reducing their activity.
Interestingly, adults with Tourette syndrome, a condition that causes involuntary vocal and motor tics, are missing these same interneurons. This suggests that problems with these brain cells may contribute to multiple conditions, including OCD and Tourette syndrome.
The researchers now plan to investigate whether these antibodies are also found in children with OCD and Tourette syndrome who were not diagnosed with PANDAS. This could help determine how common this immune response is in different mental health disorders.
This study, led by Dr. Christopher Pittenger, was published in the American Journal of Psychiatry. It provides important clues about the connection between the immune system and brain function in OCD and related disorders. Scientists hope that this research will lead to better understanding and treatment options for children affected by these conditions.
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