obsessive compulsive disorder

A brain scan could help identify those at risk of obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD), say scientists.

(Elsevier) Anxiety is a normal human response to stress, but in some, it can develop into a disabling disorder of excessive and irrational fears, such as obsessive-compulsive disorder, panic disorder, or post-traumatic stress disorder.

Effective treatments are available and can involve either behavioral therapy or medications.

(University of California - Los Angeles) The neurotransmitter serotonin, which acts as a chemical messenger between nerve cells, plays a critical role in regulating emotions such as aggression during social decision-making.

The findings highlight why some of us may become combative or aggressive when we have not eaten. The research also provides insight into clinical disorders characterized by low serotonin levels, such as depression and obsessive compulsive disorder.

A high-tech procedure that delivers radiation deep within the brain relieved symptoms in half of patients with obsessive-compulsive disorder who got no help from medication or talk therapy, a small study shows.