Is OCD Hereditary?

OCD or obsessive-compulsive disorder is a psychological illness marked by features known as compulsions and obsessions. Compulsions comprise of redundant behavior of certain acts like examining and validating, arranging, washing, hiring cleaning service expert right into san Diego for professional house cleaning, calculating, searching for assurance, and acting out some particular habits. These actions are done to ease anxiety instead of seeking satisfaction in some other compulsive deeds such as eating, sex or gambling.

On the other hand, obsessions are mental images, intrusive thoughts, or desires to do explicit actions. Though certain obsessions differ significantly, all of them usually involve anxiety of a disease or infection; a craving for balance or making stuffs right or intrusive thoughts concerning sex, aggression or religion.

Cause of OCD

To this date, the cause of OCD is still indefinite. Medical experts are constantly studying whether this disorder might deal with alterations in the brain’s reaction to neurotransmitters like dopamine or serotonin. Difficulties in managing the commotion and communication among different parts of the brain are believed to be factors in developing OCD.

The differences in some genes which give commands for proteins that respond to or carry serotonin have been linked with a bigger chance of acquiring OCD. In addition, variations in genes, specifically those involved in transmission in the brain, can also be linked in this disorder. However, not all humans with variations will suffer OCD, and not all people with this illness have a related variation.

Hereditary or Not?

In general, genetic studies denote that there’s a chance, especially when anxiety is common in the family. In some studies, there’s a great possibility of a family member to acquire OCD if someone in their family has one. A meta-analytic review in 2001 revealed that an individual with OCD is 4 times more probable to get someone in their family member with the same disorder compared to a person without OCD.

This and other research have supported the probability of domestic occurrence of OCD and led to an exploration to recognize particular genetic features that are involved. However, medical experts haven’t still pinpointed a firm potential gene that is accountable for OCD despite the numerous studies conducted and lots of possible gene prospective being proposed.

Another vital information that needs to be contemplated is that many patients have said that no one in their family is suffering from OCD or any other anxiety conditions. Moreover, there’s an incident involving a twin where one has OCD and the other doesn’t which makes this theory in doubt.

This implies that OCD is not solely caused by genetics, and the incidence of it in the family might be learned behaviors in some instances. Though the perception of OCD being hereditary is not completely established yet, one thing is for sure – the environment plays a significant factor in developing an OCD.

Conclusion

Hopefully, this article helped you fully understand OCD. If someone in your family has OCD, don’t be afraid and eliminate the thinking that you might also suffer since the hereditary theory has not validated yet by the experts. Instead, focus on how to get your family’s environment better.

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