Obsessive Compulsive Disorder at Johns Hopkins

The JHU OCD Family Study

The clinical presentation and primary symptoms of obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD) have been established since 1903. The primary symptoms of obsessions and compulsions can be extremely debilitating and greatly interfere with productive life. OCD affects between 1-3% of the general population. Although OCD can remain active throughout life, the age at which there is the greatest risk of developing the disorder tends to be adolescence through middle adulthood.

Most studies to date have been inconclusive regarding familial transmission of OCD. In our study, we hope to determine whether or not OCD runs in families. With more knowledge about OCD, we can begin to offer more information to patients and their families about how to better manage this illness and, therefore, improve their lives.

In order to establish a familial pattern in OCD, we will be talking to members of the same family. We will be asking questions about personality, mood, and thinking. We are including in our study some individuals who may have OCD and other individuals selected at random. After we have interviewed selected individuals for the study, we then would like to interview certain relatives. At the conclusion of our study, we hope to determine whether or not OCD is familial, as well as whether or not there are other illnesses associated with OCD.

The OCD Collaborative Genetics Study

This is a continuation of the OCD Family Study. Six OCD research groups, coordinated by Johns Hopkins University, collaborate in the development of an early-onset sample of 350 affected sibling pairs and 200 extended pedigree families and to conduct a genome-wide search to detect chromosomal regions associated with susceptibility of OCD. The collaborating centers are:

Johns Hopkins: Johns Hopkins has an array of clinical services for the treatment of patients, both children and adults, with OCD. The Adult OCD Clinic is directed by Dr. Nestadt and Dr. Bienvenu, and the Anxiety Discorders Clinic by Dr. Hoehn-Saric.

NIMH: The Adult Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD) Clinical Research Study Unit resides in the Laboratory of Clinical Science at the National Institute of Mental Health where Dr. Murphy is the Chief.

UCLA: The Child and Adolescent OCD and Related Disorder Program at UCLA specializes in the treatment of children and adolescents with these disorders. In addition to treatment programs, there are a variety of outreach and educational programs.

Harvard: The Massachusetts General Hospital (MGH) OCD Clinical Research Unit (OCD CRU) was founded in 1982. This group has conducted numerous research studies and published widely since that time.

Brown University: The Obsessive Disorder Clinic at Brown has been in operation since 1983. There are currently five full-time psychiatrists doing OCD-related research at Brown.

Columbia University: The Anxiety Genetic Unit at New York State Psychiatric Institute/Columbia University was established in 1984 and has conducted numerous family and diagnostic studies of anxiety disorders including two direct interview family studies of OCD and an ongoing collaborative molecular genetic study of panic disorder.

* Our search is supported by NIH grants R01 MH50214 and by NIH, NCRR, OPD-GCRC RR00052. Individuals are welcome to make a finanical contribution to the study to continue this research. Checks should be written to Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine -- Dr. Gerald Nestadt Research Account and mailed to: 600 N. Wolfe Street, Meyer 4-181, Baltimore, MD 21287.