Serotonin Vs. Dopamine for OCD

Obsessive-compulsive disorder, or OCD, is a mental illness that affects many people. The most common symptom of OCD is an inability to control obsessive behavior. Two chemicals that may contribute to the disorder, and can help to treat it in controlled amounts, are serotonin and dopamine.

Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder

• Obsessive-compulsive disorder was once considered a relatively rare illness. A recent study from McMaster University in Canada, however, has claimed that it may be twice as prevalent as schizophrenia. Symptoms of the disorder include obsessive fears and an overbearing desire for order. People who suffer from OCD may also compulsively perform tasks and actions, such as cleaning, turning light switches on and off and saving containers.

Serotonin

• Serotonin has been linked to OCD for quite a long time. No definite cause of OCD has been found so far, but a lack of serotonin may contribute to the disorder. Serotonin is a chemical in the brain that carries messages between nerve cells and helps to prevent you from repeating tasks.

Dopamine

• Dopamine is another message-carrying chemical that is found in the central area of the brain. Too much dopamine in the brain may contribute to OCD, and increases and decreases in dopamine levels have also been linked to other conditions, such as Parkinson's disease.

Treatment

• Drugs focused on reducing dopamine levels and increasing serotonin levels in the brain may assist in treating OCD. Such drugs include clomipramine, fluoxetine, sertraline, paroxetine and fluvoxamine. But medication should not be the only form of treatment for this condition. Behavioral therapy, in which the patient is presented with factors that trigger their disorders, may also help to ease the symptoms of OCD.

Considerations

• It is important not to self-diagnose. Any drugs used to alter levels of serotonin and dopamine in the brain require a prescription. Consult a doctor before considering any treatment options for OCD.