Causes

Now that you know a little more about OCD, you might be curious of what causes it. Well, so am I, to be honest. Here's a summary of what I've gathered.

The General Theories

• Generally scholars agree it is a mix of psychological and biological factors
• Brain differences, genetic influences, and environmental factors are being studied
• However, researchers are still unable to pinpoint the exact cause of the disorder

OCD remains to be a mystery when it comes to its origin. Though researchers have seen a lot of hints that the disorder can run in families, they're still unsure of what causes it in the first place. In the end, it seems likely it's a mix of psychological and biological factors.

Two Major Theories

• Striatum Theory: Mice with striatum abnormality showed OCD-like behavior (i.e. grooming excessively)
• Imbalance of Brain Chemicals: Studies in individuals showed unusual amounts of both serotonin and dopamine in parts of the brain; this could be a cause or an effect