강박장애와 글루타메이트 기능 이상

Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder and Glutamatergic Dysfunction

The definite causes of obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) are still unknown. OCD has been suggested to be related to many neurotransmitters in brain, such as serotonin, dopamine and glutamate. It has been shown that serotonergic neurons play a crucial role in the pathophysiology of OCD. Recently, it is known that neurotransmitters other than serotonin also play a role in the pathophysiology of OCD, and a series of studies have provided a few evidence that glutamate may be involved in some OCD patients. The purpose of this article was to review the literatures on glutamatergic dysfunction in OCD. We suggest that glutamatergic dysfunction may be implicated in the pathophysiology of OCD.