Four Factors that Cause Obsessive Compulsive Disorder

The cause of obsessive compulsive disorder is not exactly defined at this time. However, studies may indicate certain "risk factors" and point to likely hypotheses. Whether any of these discoveries will later prove to be a primary cause of obsessive compulsive disorder is anybody's guess.

Cause of Obsessive Compulsive Disorder – Genetics

Although research is still being done on genes and OCD, the disorder has been observed to run across generations of the same family. Also, studies reveal that if an identical twin has OCD, there's a 70% chance that his/her twin has it as well.

That possibility drops to 50% for fraternal twins. This shows that OCD follows the same pattern as other mental illnesses of being more common in identical rather than fraternal twins.

There's a 25% chance, on the other hand, that a typical OCD sufferer will have a blood relative with OCD as well.

Scientists still don't know how the genetic cause of obsessive compulsive disorder works, but they suspect that multiple genes may be involved.

Cause of Obsessive Compulsive Disorder – Illness

Being sick may intensify the fears a person has about his/her cleanliness and health. This, in turn, triggers more compulsive activities to alleviate those fears. OCD could also be related to other anxiety disorders.

Clinical studies involving children have recently shown that streptococcal infection could be a cause of obsessive compulsive disorder.

Cause of Obsessive Compulsive Disorder – Pregnancy or Postpartum

Some recent research suggests that the cause of obsessive compulsive disorder could be hormonal fluctuations that occur during pregnancy.

Mothers may develop the disorder during pregnancy or postpartum, or perhaps notice that mild OCD became worse after giving birth. OCD was reportedly observed in 30% of female subjects.

A newborn comes with new responsibilities, worries, and changes in the mother's routine. So some amount anxiety is the normal reaction to a new baby. But postpartum OCD involves disturbing thoughts as well as excessive, unreasonable behavior regarding the newborn's health and safety.

Cause of Obsessive Compulsive Disorder – Serotonin Hypothesis

Scientists propose that one cause of obsessive compulsive disorder could be the way the brain distributes its chemical, known as Serotonin. It's responsible for transmitting data across nerves throughout the human brain.

Using brain scans, scientists noted how an OCD patient's brain behaves differently from a normal brain. This offers clear proof that OCD is indeed a medical rather than a purely psychological disorder.

The substantially low levels of Serotonin are treated with SSRIs (Selective Serotonin Reuptake-inhibitors).