In this article we are going to talk a little about some of these characteristics within the neurobiology of the brain that have been found in people who have OCD.
It is possible that, when we think about a person with a mental health condition, we wonder if there are particular characteristics that predispose them to having that disorder or if their brain works in a particular way. The reality is that, both in obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) and in any other mental health condition, they occur due to a series of biological conditions.
For a start, I must mention the chemical substances that function within the brain and that help regulate people’s behavioral and emotional responses.; These substances are called neurochemicals and there are several types, each one responsible for intervening in different processes within the individual.
In the case of OCD, it has been seen that there are imbalances in three of these substances: serotonin, dopamine and glutamate. Beyond understanding what each one does, the important thing here is to know that the brain works very precisely with the substances it has, Each one awakens very specific things when they are activated and, for this reason, when we have too much or too little of one, the brain works differently.
In addition, some studies have shown that OCD is very likely to generate changes in the structure of the brain and this, in combination with changes in the chemicals we already mentioned, produces a real change in the way this part of the body functions.
This has even been demonstrated with neuroimaging examinations. In them it has been seen that the brain activity of people with OCD is different. In a way, It is as if there is a disconnection between some structures in the brain andbecause of this, Messages that aim to provide a solution to certain situations end up “translating” into compulsive behaviors.
In turn, it has been seen that when people with OCD are exposed to a triggering situation, some areas of the brain enter a cycle of hyperactivity correlated with the severity of the symptoms.
The positive news is that the brain has a significant level of plasticity, this means that with therapeutic processes you can modify the way in which the brain functions and communicates within itself and this, added to some medications, can help improve the neurobiological response of a person with OCD.
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This is fundamental, as it shows us the importance of therapeutic support in this, and in any other mental health condition, because although there are biological conditions that significantly affect the possibility of presenting a condition, The support of specialized professionals can make a difference and contribute significantly to making this person’s life as functional as possible.