Role of dopamine in the pathophysiology and treatment of obsessive–compulsive disorder

Abstract

The differential effects of serotonin-reuptake inhibitors on obsessive–compulsive disorder (OCD) were sufficient to presume that a serotonin regulatory disorder is the most essential part of the pathophysiology of OCD. In patients with OCD, however, a high-dose of serotonin-reuptake inhibitor monotherapy may not be sufficient, and approximately half of patients were noted to be treatment-resistant. As results from previous studies have shown, there have been positive treatment responses to the dopaminergic antagonists. This suggests that other neurotransmitter systems, such as dopamine, are involved in the pathophysiology of OCD. Preclinical, neuroimaging and neurochemical studies have provided evidence demonstrating that the dopaminergic system is involved in inducing or aggravating the symptoms that are indicative of OCD. In this article, we review the dopaminergic system in OCD pathophysiology as well as reviewing the effect of drugs that act on dopaminergic activity in OCD.

Keywords::

• antagonist
• dopamine
• fronto–striatal circuit
• obsessive–compulsive disorder
• pathophysiology

Financial & competing interests disclosure

The authors have no relevant affiliations or financial involvement with any organization or entity with a financial interest in or financial conflict with the subject matter or materials discussed in the manuscript. This includes employment, consultancies, honoraria, stock ownership or options, expert testimony, grants or patents received or pending, or royalties.

No writing assistance was utilized in the production of this manuscript.