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Cited by 209Obsessive-Compulsive Spectrum DisordersNeuroendocrine regulation and behaviorPsychoanalysis and Psychopathology Research

Elevated Cerebrospinal Fluid Levels of Oxytocin in Obsessive-compulsive Disorder: Comparison With Tourette's Syndrome and Healthy Controls

Leckman, James F.·1994·Archives of General Psychiatry
DOI 10.1001/archpsyc.1994.03950100030003
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Abstract

BACKGROUND: Limited neurobiological data have implicated central arginine vasopressin in the pathobiology of obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD). Based on twin, family genetic, and pharmacological studies, some forms of OCD are etiologically related to Tourette's syndrome. The role of arginine vasopressin and related compounds such as oxytocin in Tourette's syndrome has not been previously explored. METHODS: To compare cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) levels of arginine vasopressin and oxytocin, we collected CSF at midday in a standardized fashion from a total of 83 individuals (29 patients with OCD, 23 patients with Tourette's syndrome, and 31 normal controls). We also collected family study data on each subject to determine which subjects had a family history positive for Tourette's syndrome, OCD, or related syndromes. RESULTS: In contrast to previous reports, we report similar concentrations of arginine vasopressin for all three groups but increased oxytocin levels in patients with OCD. Remarkably, this increase was observed only in a subset of patients with OCD (n = 22) independently identified as being without a personal or family history of tic disorders (P = .0003). In this subgroup of patients, the CSF oxytocin level was correlated with current severity of OCD (n = 19, r = .47, P < .05). CONCLUSIONS: A possible role for oxytocin in the neurobiology of a subtype of OCD is suggested by the elevated CSF levels of oxytocin and by the correlation between CSF oxytocin levels and OCD severity. These findings reinforce the value of family genetic data in identifying biologically homogeneous (and perhaps more etiologically homogeneous) groups of patients with OCD. Together with emerging pharmacological data showing differential responsiveness to treatment of tic-related OCD vs non-tic-related OCD, these data also argue strongly for the incorporation of tic-relatedness as a variable in biological and behavioral studies of patients with OCD.

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  • The present findings are consistent with recent research assessing plasma and cerebrospinal fluid OT, which showed similar concentrations of OT in men and women.

    “The present findings are consistent with recent research assessing plasma (30) and cerebrospinal fluid OT (37), which showed similar concentrations of OT in men and women.”

    From Oxytocin and the development of parenting in humans (2010) · cites this paper as [37]

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Authors
Leckman, J. F.
Affiliations
Yale University (US)
Corresponding author
Leckman, James F.
ORCID
Leckman, James F.
Venue
Archives of General Psychiatry
Publisher
American Medical Association (AMA)
Published
1994-10-01
Volume
51
Issue
10
Pages
782
ISSN
0003-990X (ISSN-L)
DOI
10.1001/archpsyc.1994.03950100030003
OpenAlex
W2106516672
Cited by
209
References
69
Citations by year
2026: 2 · 2025: 2 · 2024: 5 · 2023: 1 · 2022: 6 · 2021: 3 · 2020: 4 · 2019: 7 · 2018: 1 · 2017: 6 · 2016: 7 · 2015: 9 · 2014: 10 · 2013: 6 · 2012: 11
FWCI
9.81
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
closed
Locations
  • Archives of General Psychiatry (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
Funders
  • National Institutes of Health (5r01mh044843-03)
  • National Institute of Mental Health (MH00508, MH49351, P01MH049351, MH 44843)
Topics
  • Social Sciences › Psychology › Clinical Psychology › Obsessive-Compulsive Spectrum Disorders
  • Social Sciences › Psychology › Social Psychology › Neuroendocrine regulation and behavior
  • Social Sciences › Psychology › Clinical Psychology › Psychoanalysis and Psychopathology Research
Keywords
obsessive-compulsive disorder, oxytocin, vasopressin, cerebrospinal fluid, Tourette syndrome, family history (medicine), OCD severity, neurobiology of OCD
MeSH terms
Adolescent, Adult, Arginine Vasopressin, Mental Disorders, Biogenic Amines, Dynorphins, Family, Female, Tourette Syndrome, Humans, Hydroxyindoleacetic Acid, Male, Middle Aged, Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder, Oxytocin, Psychiatric Status Rating Scales, Severity of Illness Index, Tryptophan, Comorbidity, Age of Onset

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