Obsessive-compulsive disorder is a mental condition that results in excessive thoughts (obsessions) that lead to repetitive behaviors (compulsions). Although there is still no known cause for OCD, it is believed that it develops because of a combination of genetic, neurological, behavioral, cognitive, and environmental factors.
Genetic Causes
Research has shown that OCD tends to run in families, meaning that if you have one or more family members who have been affected by the disorder, you are more likely to develop it yourself.
Neurological Causes
Studies of the brains of OCD patients have revealed that there are significant differences in the brain of someone with OCD versus the brain of someone without the disorder. It is not exactly determined how these differences play into the development of obsessive-compulsive disorder, but the brain areas that are suggested to be involved with the symptoms of this disorder include:
- Orbitofrontal cortex
- Anterior cingulate cortex
- Striatum
- Thalamus
- Anterior cingulate gyrus
- Caudate nucleus
- Basal ganglia
Research suggests that there are communication problems between these areas of the brain, which causes the obsessions and compulsions. This is because the brain has difficulty knowing how to ignore urges, and this can lead to the repetitive behaviors. Though the causes of this malfunction are still not completely clear, it is believed that it mostly has to with the neurotransmitters serotonin, dopamine, and glutamate.
Behavioral Causes
There is a behavioral theory that suggests that people with OCD associate certain items or places with fear and learn to avoid these things that trigger fear or to perform rituals in order to reduce their fear. In this theory, the fear stems from times of high stress, such as a relationship ending, losing a loved one, or starting a new job.
For example, someone who may have always been able to use a public restroom without problem, after a period of stress may start to associate toilet seats with catching an illness.
Cognitive Causes
In this theory, instead of associating certain objects with fear, the individual is simply misinterpreting their thoughts. The cognitive theory suggests that people with OCD have the same thoughts as everyone else, but their reaction to the thoughts is what causes their anxiety and other negative emotions.
For example, someone with a newborn infant may worry briefly about accidentally harming their child. But instead of shrugging this thought off like most people would be able to, someone with OCD would exaggerate this thought and start to see it as an actual threat that begins to interfere with their everyday life.
Environmental Causes
Some theories focus on the idea that environmental stressors play a role in the development of OCD. Many studies indicate that people with OCD frequently report experiencing a traumatic or stressful life event before the illness begins. Common environmental factors include:
- Abuse
- Changes in living situation
- Illness
- Death of a family member or friend
- School or work problems or changes
- Relationship worries
