Immunological causes of obsessive-compulsive disorder: is it time for the concept of an “autoimmune OCD” subtype?
Endres D, Pollak TA, Bechter K, Denzel D, Pitsch K, Nickel K, Runge K, Pankratz B, Klatzmann D, Tamouza R, Mallet L, Leboyer M, Prüss H, Voderholzer U, Cunningham JL; ECNP Network Immuno-NeuroPsychiatry, Domschke K, Tebartz van Elst L, Schiele MA. Immunological causes of obsessive-compulsive disorder: is it time for the concept of an “autoimmune OCD” subtype? Transl Psychiatry. 2022 Jan 10;12(1):5. doi: 10.1038/s41398-021-01700-4. PMID: 35013105; PMCID: PMC8744027.
- There is increasing evidence for secondary immune-mediated forms of OCD.
- The DSM-5 and novel ICD-11 criteria include the category of secondary OCD, without, however, providing guidelines according to which such a diagnosis should be established.
- The authors have drafted a first proposal of clinical criteria for the definition of secondary autoimmune OCD.
- Recognizing the autoimmune causes of OCD could inform additional therapeutic options for the affected patients to promote treatment response and reduce chronicity.”