Scan Finds Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder in Brain

Scientists have identified a region of the brain that remains underactive in people with obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) and those at risk of developing the condition. OCD is an anxiety disorder characterized by persistent, recurrent unwanted thoughts that may be accompanied by repetitive, ritualized compulsive behaviors, such as handwashing. Using functional magnetic resonance imaging to observe the brains of people with OCD, relatives who might be predisposed to the condition, and healthy participants, researchers found that the disorder impairs function in the lateral orbitofrontal cortex, a region involved in decision making and behavior.