TL;DR: A 2026 case study in Biomedical Reports described a 28-year-old woman with bipolar II disorder whose stable subclinical counting compulsion worsened and expanded into new obsessive-compulsive symptoms within 3 days of starting cariprazine, then returned near baseline within 7 days after the drug was stopped. Key Findings Single case report: The source described one …
TL;DR: A 2026 trial in Journal of Psychopharmacology found that repeated supervised psilocybin sessions reduced Yale-Brown Obsessive Compulsive Scale (YBOCS) scores, a standard measure of obsession and compulsion severity, in 15 adults with OCD. Key Findings 73.3% met responder criteria: At the end of the 8-week treatment, 11 of 15 participants had at least a …
TL;DR: A 2026 preprint in medRxiv found that deep brain stimulation for severe obsessive-compulsive disorder was followed by lower globus pallidus externus alpha-band activity in clinically responsive patients, suggesting a possible brain readout of sustained DBS response. Key Findings 10 severe OCD patients: Researchers recorded local field potentials from the anterior globus pallidus externus (GPe) …
TL;DR: A 2026 preprint in medRxiv used whole-genome sequencing in two families with many obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) cases and prioritized rare variants in NPY5R, DLGAP1, and MAPK8IP3, but the findings still need replication and functional testing. Key Findings Two densely affected families: Researchers sequenced 25 people from two multiplex OCD pedigrees, meaning families with several …
TL;DR: A 2026 medRxiv preprint reported that ventral capsule deep brain stimulation (DBS), an implanted brain-stimulation treatment, reduced severe treatment-resistant obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) symptoms by 22 Yale-Brown Obsessive-Compulsive Scale (Y-BOCS) points on average in 10 participants. Key Findings 10 severe OCD patients: Researchers implanted bilateral ventral internal capsule DBS leads in participants with intractable obsessive-compulsive …
Antidepressant treatment in OCD is linked to structural and functional brain changes, particularly in corticosubcortical areas, but these findings need further validation in larger, more homogeneous samples. Highlights: Antidepressant Use: Antidepressants, especially SSRIs, are a primary treatment for OCD, resulting in significant brain changes. Brain Structure Changes: Studies show volume alterations in the thalamus, amygdala, …
Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) is a chronic and debilitating mental health condition characterized by obsessive, anxiety-provoking thoughts and compulsive rituals aimed at reducing anxiety. Affecting 1-3% of adults worldwide, OCD often begins in childhood and impairs functioning across life domains. Advances are being made on multiple fronts to better understand and treat this complex disorder. Key …
A new case study provides initial evidence that transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) may be an effective treatment option for trichotillomania, also known as hair pulling disorder. The study tested an intensified, repeated tDCS protocol targeting the supplementary motor area and dorsolateral prefrontal cortex in a 25-year-old woman with trichotillomania. After 16 sessions over 20 …
Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) is a complex neuropsychiatric illness impacting approximately 2% of the global population. The disorder is characterized by intrusive, irrational thoughts (obsessions) and repetitive behaviors (compulsions) that patients feel driven to perform. OCD typically follows a chronic course and is associated with significant impairment and reduced quality of life. While effective therapies like …
Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) is a challenging psychiatric illness affecting 2% of the population. While some patients respond to therapy and medications, others continue to suffer from severe, treatment-resistant symptoms. Exciting new research shows that directly modulating brain activity through neuromodulation techniques can provide relief for these patients. Key Facts: OCD involves dysfunction in brain networks …
