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Many genetic studies published over the past twenty years have repeatedly shown that OCD is hereditary. Early age of onset of OCD may present a significant increase in the risk among the first-degree relatives. However, it is important to note that not all studies demonstrate that it runs in families.
www.kidsmentalhealth.org...
Originally posted by wantsome
OCD is hereditary but it can skip generations. My mom and grandfather have it but I don't. I have a friend that has it also and his mom.
I have schizophrenia which is supose to be hereditary but no one in my family has it other then me and I have a very large family.
[...]
I belive it all comes down to the genes you inherit and suseptablilty. I also belive envoirmental influences play a part as to how disorders are triggerd.
[...]
I learned in school that genes skip generations but not always depending on the prevelance of the genes from both sides of the family.
I agree with most of what you said but as to schozophrenia thier are a ton of hypothosis's out there. I've read arcticles that it's caused from , Lead poisening, to a virus founnd in cat fecies, to prenatal flue, you name it thiers a alot ideas floating around.
Originally posted by Dumbfirefly
Interesting topic.
Originally posted by wantsome
OCD is hereditary but it can skip generations. My mom and grandfather have it but I don't. I have a friend that has it also and his mom.
I have schizophrenia which is supose to be hereditary but no one in my family has it other then me and I have a very large family.
[...]
I belive it all comes down to the genes you inherit and suseptablilty. I also belive envoirmental influences play a part as to how disorders are triggerd.
[...]
I learned in school that genes skip generations but not always depending on the prevelance of the genes from both sides of the family.
Schizophrenia is not necessarily hereditary, there are a lot of theories as to what causes it. The prevailing theories cite it as a disease of the brain itself, including the popular dopamine hypothesis. I recall a study finding that flu strains in pregnant women made the child more likely to develop schizophrenia later. The recognised heredity of schizophrenia is quite low as far as I'm aware, but genetic susceptibility is only usually half the story anyway. As you mentioned, environmental factors are usually needed to nurture or trigger - and usually play the biggest role in psychiatric disorders.
With this in mind, the fact that OCD runs in families is easier to understand. Though there is no gene that 'causes' the disorder, the gene SLC1A1, which regulates the flow of glutamate in and out of brain cells, has recently been marked as a bit of a candidate in facilitating OCD's development.
However, susceptibility alone isn't an explanation, and requires nurture. It stands to reason that children with obsessive compulsive parents will learn hallmark OCD behaviours and personality traits. For something behavioural like OCD, this would most likely be the case regardless of any genetic predisposition.
And because it is a characteristically behavioural problem, it can be managed and you can 'retrain' the disorder, probably through something like Cognitive Behavioural Therapy.
Like MajorMalfunction said, online forums aren't really the best resource for diagnostic criterion. Sickos like me would have you believe all kinds of things.
[edit on 14-9-2007 by Dumbfirefly]
Originally posted by BigDaveJr
I twist the door knob 5-6 times to check if it's locked and do the same to my car door
Originally posted by CAPT PROTON
Have you had a lot of strep infections?
The following is an interesting take on it....
runews.rockefeller.edu...
Symptoms of OCD can range from mild to severe. In most cases, people know their obsessions do not represent true dangers and realize their compulsive behavior is strange or bizarre. However, deep down they are afraid that their fears might be real, and that something bad might happen if they don't act on them. People with mild OCD may check repeatedly whether they've locked the door or turned off the light. Their symptoms do not interfere with everyday life, however, and they may even successfully hide them from others.