Posted by Colleen D. on August 25, 2004, at 19:17:26
In reply to Does anyone know what actually causes OCD?, posted by BRC on August 25, 2004, at 18:15:59
And I've had moderate success in relieving some of the associated anxiety with Zoloft and Effexor. Here's a bit from the OCD Foundation website that talks about the brain.
"Research suggests that OCD involves problems in communication between the front part of the brain (the orbital cortex) and deeper structures (the basal ganglia).
These brain structures use the chemical messenger serotonin. It is believed that insufficient levels of serotonin are prominently involved in OCD. Drugs that increase the brain concentration of serotonin often help improve OCD symptoms.
Pictures of the brain at work also show that the brain circuits involved in OCD return toward normal in those who improve after taking a serotonin medication or receiving cognitive-behavioral psychotherapy.
Although it seems clear that reduced levels of serotonin play a role in OCD, there is no laboratory test for OCD. Rather, the diagnosis is made based on an assessment of the person's symptoms. When OCD starts suddenly in childhood in association with strep throat, an autoimmune mechanism may be involved, and treatment with an antibiotic may prove helpful."
And too, a link to the site, which has quite a lot of info.
http://www.ocfoundation.org/ocf1010a.htm
Good luck!
Colleen
PPD, GAD and OCD
poster:Colleen D.
thread:382306
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20040825/msgs/382328.html