Theoretical and Natural Science
- The Open Access Proceedings Series for Conferences
Theoretical and Natural Science
Vol. 8, 13 November 2023
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Gender differences in the symptoms and physiological basis of Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder
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Abstract
Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) is an anxiety disorder related to repetitive behaviors and intrusive thoughts. Individuals with OCD experience conscious, self-imposed compulsions and counter-compulsions, which result in high levels of anxiety and difficulties in social interactions. OCD is a common mental disorder with onset often in adolescence. Gender differences in OCD exist, with males reporting earlier symptom onset, and females experiencing symptoms during adolescence, pregnancy, or postpartum, particularly related to contamination and/or aggressive obsessions. Neurobiological factors play a role in OCD etiology. Genetic studies show hereditary tendencies, with gender differences observed. Brain structure research identifies differences between male and female patients. Dopamine and plasma norepinephrine are implicated in OCD pathogenesis. Understanding gender differences is crucial for OCD diagnosis and treatment. Further research is needed to validate and explain these differences in order to inform advancements in OCD treatment approaches. This paper summarizes and discusses the relationship between OCD and gender, focusing on epidemiological characteristics, symptoms, and physiological basis of OCD, emphasizing gender differences. Future research directions in the field of OCD are presented.
Keywords
Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder, Gender Differences, Compulsive Behavior, Obsessive-Compulsive Circuitry
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Data Availability
The datasets used and/or analyzed during the current study will be available from the authors upon reasonable request.
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- Volume Title
- Proceedings of the 2nd International Conference on Modern Medicine and Global Health
- ISBN (Print)
- 978-1-83558-111-7
- ISBN (Online)
- 978-1-83558-112-4
- Published Date
- 13 November 2023
- Series
- Theoretical and Natural Science
- ISSN (Print)
- 2753-8818
- ISSN (Online)
- 2753-8826
- DOI
- 10.54254/2753-8818/8/20240366
- Copyright
- 13 November 2023
- Open Access
- This article is an open access article distributed under the terms and conditions of the Creative Commons Attribution (CC BY) license, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited