OCD Action

Rena32
Member

Just wandering does anyone else have symptoms of ADHD or ADD along with there OCD. I have always had ADHD since I was a child, it came before the OCD. Can't sit still, constantly fidgeting, easily distracted, and can't stay focused on one thing at a time, unless it is an OCD thought then I get stuck on the thought. Anyone else experience these symptoms? I wonder if there is some type of connection between OCD, ADHD or ADD. Any thoughts?

Sun Mar 14 2010 20:37:34 #
Cuthbert ffoliott
Moderator

Hi Rena -

there is. However, one must always be careful about absolute statements in science (i.e.: 'there is'). 'There definitely seems to be' is better.

OCD, tic disorders, Tourette's, and ADHD co-segregate, which means: in genetic research, these disorders 'travel together', a good example is: if a child gets OCD, then we are sure that it has a significantly higher chance of having tic disorders then other kids do. The above disorders might very well share some genetic causes.

It is very likely that all four disorders are polygenic in nature, which means: they are not due to a mutation on one single important gene, but a number of different genes have slight abnormalities, and these, taken together, lie at the heart of the disease.

In research it turned out that OCD, tic, Tourette's, and ADHS are 'family' of each other. The four have several genetic mutations in common. Therefore the chance is higher that a person with OCD has tics too, or ADHD.

Ciao,

Cuthbert.

Mon Mar 15 2010 8:33:14 #
Wombat140
Member

I had tics when I was little. I had a fair few symptoms of ADD too, and still have. Another thing that "travels with" OCD statistically is Asperger's syndrome, by the way.

Can you give us any more details about that genetic research, Cuthbert? I don't think I heard about that.

Wed Mar 17 2010 20:11:07 #
freddy
Member

Cuthbert,
This is very interesting as I too suffer from tics. I didn't know that tics and ocd are are a family together. I've had a tic since I was a child but OCD developed later, although I have always been a worrier.

I hate my tics and although most people don't mention them, I am always embarrased by them and consious of them.

Wed Mar 17 2010 21:02:06 #
Cuthbert ffoliott
Moderator

Hi Freddy and Wombat -

Wombat is right: Asperger's belongs to the family of OCD-related disorders. There is a spectrum (a range) of disorders that share genetic featurs. The interesting thing is that these disorders (OCD, impulse control disorder, ADHD, Tourette's, other tics, anorexia, for instance) also share brain structure aberrations and phenomenological features (i.e. one can observe a common behavioural pattern).

Genes that probably are at the root of these disorders: SERT (that is the gene that codes for a molecule in the membrane of a nerve cell, and that molecule transports the neurotransmitter serotonin back into the cell); and MOG and OLIG2 (these are genes that code for molecules in myelin, a substance that consists of fat and proteins. Myelin insulates nerve cells (electrically); the big advantage of myelin is that it saves time and energy in the process where small electrical currents travel along the extensions of a nerve cell. Think of rubber protecting electrical cables and preventing electrical current leaking away.

Now: in these disorders, brain structures are different from normal ones (don't worry: you don't miss your frontal lobe :lol:) But some regions that deal with worry and 'judging the importance of things' are overactive; and others are underactive (those dealing with the extinction of fear, for instance). These regions are structurally different. Overactive regions tend to be smaller, and underactive regions are larger. Sounds a bit counter-intuitive, but it's the case.
From the tasks I assigned to the brain regions, you already see that characteristics of OCD (overworrying, not being able to see a tiny fear just for what it is: unimportant) are exactly reflected in the brain region changes I described.

Now, that strange word: phenomenological changes. Not difficult. The doctor assesses the condition of a patient with OCD. Or ADHD. Or BDD. Or tics. And what links these disorders: the inability to suppress. OCD patients can't stop worrying and acting out their rituals. ADHD and tic patients cannot stop their unrest, or muscle movements. BDD patients cannot stop worrying about their physical appearance, or even: their distorted perception of their own face (e.g. the nose). Anorexia patients cannot stop worrying about their 'body fat index' and their eating (or rather: non-eating) obsessions.

A recent and thrilling finding was that Tourette patients have changes in their myelin (see above) where it was unexpected. Up until now, it was thought that tics and Tourette's would be associated with motor tracts in the brain. But it turned out that also the 'long association fibres' were affected, the tracts linking for instance frontal parts of the brian to that part that has to do with vision, with actualizing the moving world you see around you. This is odd... but it's the same in body dysmorphic disorder. So here's a finding that really makes the case that the group of disorders is quite tight. And that, in turn, is a start for finding better treatment options.

Hope this helps a bit.

See also my blog: http://www.obsessions-and-compulsions.blogspot.com

Ciao, Cuthbert.

Fri Mar 19 2010 13:31:50 #