Researchers have discovered brain signals linked to obsessive-compulsive disorder symptoms, paving the possibility for treatment options that are more adaptive.
Over a lengthy period of time in participants' homes, the researchers recorded electrical signals in the human brain related to ebbs and flows in OCD symptoms while they went about their regular lives.
One in every 100 adults suffers from OCD, and while numerous behavioral treatments and medicines are available, it is believed that 25% to 40% of those with OCD do not receive any long-term benefits. Intrusive thoughts and compulsive behavior can be a part of the disease, disrupting daily living and generating discomfort.
Five volunteers with severe OCD were observed both in the lab and at home during daily life in this latest study, with data collected including measurements of brain activity as well as facial expressions, body movements, heart rate, and self-reported OCD symptom intensity.
The researchers were able to identify correlations between behavioral activity and brain signals using this real-time data set. While the experiment's sample size was tiny - and additional research will be required - it may point the door to a new sector of treatment.
The study could be a significant step toward making an emerging therapy known as deep brain stimulation responsive to changes in OCD symptoms on a daily basis.
A procedure that comprises small electrodes precisely placed in the brain that deliver moderate electrical pulses, deep brain stimulation is helpful in treating over half of the patients who have failed previous therapy.
DBS is unable to react to moment-to-moment fluctuations in OCD symptoms, which are influenced by the physical and social surroundings. In contrast, adaptive DBS, which can modify stimulation intensity in response to real-time brain impulses, could be more successful and have fewer undesired side effects than regular DBS.
This avenue of research is still being worked on. Because OCD is a complicated condition with very varying manifestations between patients, the team intends to increase the number of participants to capture more of that variety. They want to find a more complete set of OCD biomarkers that can be used to guide adaptive DBS devices. Once such biomarkers are in place, the team aims to collaborate with device manufacturers to put its DBS devices into action.
OCD is a complex illness that affects people in a variety of ways, which is why a customised treatment plan may be the best option. Studies like this could reveal how OCD takes control of the brain and provide ways to lessen the disorder's effects.
The research has been published in Nature Medicine.
