The role of central oxytocin in obsessive compulsive disorder and related normal behavior

James F. Leckman; Wayne K. Goodman; William G. North; Phillip B. Chappell; Lawrence H. Price; David L. Pauls; George M. Anderson; Mark A. Riddle; Christopher J. McDougle; Linda C. Barr; Donald J. Cohen

doi:10.1016/0306-4530(94)90021-3

The role of central oxytocin in obsessive compulsive disorder and related normal behavior

James F. Leckman, Wayne K. Goodman, William G. North, Phillip B. Chappell, Lawrence H. Price, David L. Pauls, George M. Anderson, Mark A. Riddle, Christopher J. McDougle, Linda C. Barr, Donald J. Cohen

School of Medicine

Research output: Contribution to journal › Review article › peer-review

116 Scopus citations

Abstract

Oxytocin (OT) is a neurosecretory nonapeptide synthesized in hypothalamic cells, which project to widely distributed sites in the CNS as well as the neurohypophysis. Central OT affects a variety of cognitive, grooming, affiliative, sexual, and reproductive behaviors in animals. Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD) includes a range of cognitive and behavioral symptoms that bear some relationship to dimensions of behavior associated with OT. Anecdotal data and a recently completed cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) study provide evidence that some forms of OCD are related to OT dysfunction. Based on these findings, we hypothesize: 1) that some forms of OCD are at the extreme end of a range of normal behaviors that are mediated by OT and related systems; and that 2) some normal cognitive, affiliative, and sexual behaviors contain elements that are similar to features of OCD. Alternative hypotheses are considered, and a series of predictions are presented concerning the relationship between central OT and the onset, course, treatment response, and response to challenge procedures seen in this form of OCD.

Original language	English (US)
Pages (from-to)	723-749
Number of pages	27
Journal	Psychoneuroendocrinology
Volume	19
Issue number	8
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1016/0306-4530(94)90021-3
State	Published - 1994

Keywords

Behavioral effects
CNS administration
CSF studies
Obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD)
Oxytocin (OT)
Pathogenesis

ASJC Scopus subject areas

Endocrinology, Diabetes and Metabolism
Endocrinology
Endocrine and Autonomic Systems
Psychiatry and Mental health
Biological Psychiatry

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10.1016/0306-4530(94)90021-3

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@article{3f5c426e62ed4647a84f14ef42e65042,

title = "The role of central oxytocin in obsessive compulsive disorder and related normal behavior",

abstract = "Oxytocin (OT) is a neurosecretory nonapeptide synthesized in hypothalamic cells, which project to widely distributed sites in the CNS as well as the neurohypophysis. Central OT affects a variety of cognitive, grooming, affiliative, sexual, and reproductive behaviors in animals. Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD) includes a range of cognitive and behavioral symptoms that bear some relationship to dimensions of behavior associated with OT. Anecdotal data and a recently completed cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) study provide evidence that some forms of OCD are related to OT dysfunction. Based on these findings, we hypothesize: 1) that some forms of OCD are at the extreme end of a range of normal behaviors that are mediated by OT and related systems; and that 2) some normal cognitive, affiliative, and sexual behaviors contain elements that are similar to features of OCD. Alternative hypotheses are considered, and a series of predictions are presented concerning the relationship between central OT and the onset, course, treatment response, and response to challenge procedures seen in this form of OCD.",

keywords = "Behavioral effects, CNS administration, CSF studies, Obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD), Oxytocin (OT), Pathogenesis",

author = "Leckman, {James F.} and Goodman, {Wayne K.} and North, {William G.} and Chappell, {Phillip B.} and Price, {Lawrence H.} and Pauls, {David L.} and Anderson, {George M.} and Riddle, {Mark A.} and McDougle, {Christopher J.} and Barr, {Linda C.} and Cohen, {Donald J.}",

note = "Funding Information: Acknowledgments: This work was supportedin part by NIH grantsM H44843M, H49351,M H00508,N S16648, HD03008,R ROOl25,& RR06022( GeneralC linical ResearchC enters),M H30929( Mental Health Clinical Re-searchC enter),a nd the TouretteS yndromeA ssociation.T he authorsw ould like to thankM s. SusanG agnon, Ms. Sharon 1. Ort, Ms. MaureenM cSwiggan-Hardin,a nd Mr. LawrenceS cahill; and Drs. Paul J. Lombroso, Robert A. Makuch. BradleyS . Peterson,a nd Yanki Yazganf or their assistancein completingt he project and their commentso n an earlier draft of this report. The close readingo f an earlier version of this manuscript and many helpful suggestionsm adeb y Drs. ThomasR . Insel, Cort A. Pedersen,a nd David de Wied are also gratefullya cknowledged.",

year = "1994",

doi = "10.1016/0306-4530(94)90021-3",

language = "English (US)",

volume = "19",

pages = "723--749",

journal = "Psychoneuroendocrinology",

issn = "0306-4530",

publisher = "Elsevier Limited",

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T1 - The role of central oxytocin in obsessive compulsive disorder and related normal behavior

AU - Leckman, James F.

AU - Goodman, Wayne K.

AU - North, William G.

AU - Chappell, Phillip B.

AU - Price, Lawrence H.

AU - Pauls, David L.

AU - Anderson, George M.

AU - Riddle, Mark A.

AU - McDougle, Christopher J.

AU - Barr, Linda C.

AU - Cohen, Donald J.

N1 - Funding Information: Acknowledgments: This work was supportedin part by NIH grantsM H44843M, H49351,M H00508,N S16648, HD03008,R ROOl25,& RR06022( GeneralC linical ResearchC enters),M H30929( Mental Health Clinical Re-searchC enter),a nd the TouretteS yndromeA ssociation.T he authorsw ould like to thankM s. SusanG agnon, Ms. Sharon 1. Ort, Ms. MaureenM cSwiggan-Hardin,a nd Mr. LawrenceS cahill; and Drs. Paul J. Lombroso, Robert A. Makuch. BradleyS . Peterson,a nd Yanki Yazganf or their assistancein completingt he project and their commentso n an earlier draft of this report. The close readingo f an earlier version of this manuscript and many helpful suggestionsm adeb y Drs. ThomasR . Insel, Cort A. Pedersen,a nd David de Wied are also gratefullya cknowledged.

PY - 1994

Y1 - 1994

N2 - Oxytocin (OT) is a neurosecretory nonapeptide synthesized in hypothalamic cells, which project to widely distributed sites in the CNS as well as the neurohypophysis. Central OT affects a variety of cognitive, grooming, affiliative, sexual, and reproductive behaviors in animals. Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD) includes a range of cognitive and behavioral symptoms that bear some relationship to dimensions of behavior associated with OT. Anecdotal data and a recently completed cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) study provide evidence that some forms of OCD are related to OT dysfunction. Based on these findings, we hypothesize: 1) that some forms of OCD are at the extreme end of a range of normal behaviors that are mediated by OT and related systems; and that 2) some normal cognitive, affiliative, and sexual behaviors contain elements that are similar to features of OCD. Alternative hypotheses are considered, and a series of predictions are presented concerning the relationship between central OT and the onset, course, treatment response, and response to challenge procedures seen in this form of OCD.

AB - Oxytocin (OT) is a neurosecretory nonapeptide synthesized in hypothalamic cells, which project to widely distributed sites in the CNS as well as the neurohypophysis. Central OT affects a variety of cognitive, grooming, affiliative, sexual, and reproductive behaviors in animals. Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD) includes a range of cognitive and behavioral symptoms that bear some relationship to dimensions of behavior associated with OT. Anecdotal data and a recently completed cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) study provide evidence that some forms of OCD are related to OT dysfunction. Based on these findings, we hypothesize: 1) that some forms of OCD are at the extreme end of a range of normal behaviors that are mediated by OT and related systems; and that 2) some normal cognitive, affiliative, and sexual behaviors contain elements that are similar to features of OCD. Alternative hypotheses are considered, and a series of predictions are presented concerning the relationship between central OT and the onset, course, treatment response, and response to challenge procedures seen in this form of OCD.

KW - Behavioral effects

KW - CNS administration

KW - CSF studies

KW - Obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD)

KW - Oxytocin (OT)

KW - Pathogenesis

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DO - 10.1016/0306-4530(94)90021-3

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AN - SCOPUS:0028025581

SN - 0306-4530

VL - 19

SP - 723

EP - 749

JO - Psychoneuroendocrinology

JF - Psychoneuroendocrinology

IS - 8

ER -

The role of central oxytocin in obsessive compulsive disorder and related normal behavior

Abstract

Keywords

ASJC Scopus subject areas

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