A dimensional perspective on the genetics of obsessive-compulsive disorder

Strom, Nora I.; Soda, Takahiro; Mathews, Carol A. and Davis, Lea K. (2021): A dimensional perspective on the genetics of obsessive-compulsive disorder. In: Translational Psychiatry, Vol. 11, No. 1, 401

Abstract

This review covers recent findings in the genomics of obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), obsessive-compulsive symptoms, and related traits from a dimensional perspective. We focus on discoveries stemming from technical and methodological advances of the past five years and present a synthesis of human genomics research on OCD. On balance, reviewed studies demonstrate that OCD is a dimensional trait with a highly polygenic architecture and genetic correlations to multiple, often comorbid psychiatric phenotypes. We discuss the phenotypic and genetic findings of these studies in the context of the dimensional framework, relying on a continuous phenotype definition, and contrast these observations with discoveries based on a categorical diagnostic framework, relying on a dichotomous case/control definition. Finally, we highlight gaps in knowledge and new directions for OCD genetics research.

• Item Type: Journal article
• Faculties: Medicine
• Subjects: 600 Technology > 610 Medicine and health
• ISSN: 2158-3188
• Language: English