• Question: What can cause OCD?

    Asked by to Daren, Lynne, Phillip, Simon on 19 Jun 2014. This question was also asked by .
    • Photo: Daren Fearon

      Daren Fearon answered on 19 Jun 2014:

      Like a lot of mental health conditions, OCD isn’t particularly well understood yet. It is likely caused by a mixture of peoples genes and levels of different chemicals in their brains. Although no specific gene that causes OCD has been identified, there is some evidence that it is runs in families – a person with OCD is 4 times more likely to have another family member with OCD than those without. Studies have also shown that people with OCD have unusual levels of activity in parts of their brain that are associate with emotions and they also have a lack of serotonin – a neurotransmitter that is involved in controlling our mood and levels of stress and anxiety.

      I have a friend who is very OCD about switches and plugs – they MUST be turned off if nothing is plugged in.

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