Family and Genetic Studies of OCD

PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR: Gerald Nestadt, M.D., M.P.H.

The goal of this research program is to elucidate the causes and pathophysiology of obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD).  The program was initiated in the 1990’s to investigate the genetic etiology of OCD.

In the OCD Family Study (1996-2001), we evaluated over 800 individuals in 153 families. We found the occurrence of OCD to be six times greater in relatives of OCD cases than in relatives of the control group. Other anxiety disorders, especially agoraphobia and generalized anxiety disorder, also were more prevalent in case families. Segregation analysis provided evidence that genes of major effect are involved in OCD.