title: Biological markers in obsessive-compulsive and affective disorders.
abstract: To explore the relationship between obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) and affective disorder, patients with OCD were studied using a series of biological markers which have been previously reported to be abnormal in patients with affective illness. These "markers" included the dexamethasone suppression test, sleep electroencephalography, the plasma growth hormone response to clonidine, and platelet 3H-imipramine binding. Results from each of these studies suggested similarities between patients with obsessional disorder and those with affective illness. Many of these biological abnormalities were evident in obsessional patients who did not manifest depressive symptoms. As a tricyclic antidepressant, clomipramine, has been found to reduce obsessional symptoms, the relationship between these "affective-like" laboratory findings and the clinical response to clomipramine was studied in a subgroup of OCD patients. Preliminary results suggest that none of the markers studied predict clomipramine response.
mesh_terms: D001792:Blood Platelets / Q000378:metabolism; D002997:Clomipramine / Q000627:therapeutic use; D003000:Clonidine; D003866:Depressive Disorder / Q000503:physiopathology*; D003907:Dexamethasone; D004569:Electroencephalography; D013006:Growth Hormone / Q000097:blood; D006801:Humans; D006854:Hydrocortisone / Q000097:blood; D007099:Imipramine / Q000378:metabolism; D009771:Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000503:physiopathology*; D012890:Sleep / Q000502:physiology
chemical_list: D003907:Dexamethasone; D013006:Growth Hormone; D003000:Clonidine; D002997:Clomipramine; D007099:Imipramine; D006854:Hydrocortisone