Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD) Treatment Center for Adolescents Near Dallas, Texas

Brain Structure and Function

Some people with obsessive-compulsive disorder demonstrate changes in the structure and function of the front of the brain. Both children and adults with OCD exhibit a reduced thickness in the bilateral inferior parietal cortex, a region situated near the temples, accountable for various cognitive functions, like  interpreting sensations or experiences.

Serotonin Imbalance

Serotonin imbalance has been linked with OCD. Serotonin is a neurotransmitter that sends chemical messages between the brain and your body. Serotonin helps regulate your mood, sleep, bone health, and digestion to name a few functions. Medications called Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors (SSRIs) can help treat OCD by creating a better balance of serotonin in the brain.

Genetic Factors

Your teen’s risk of developing OCD is partly rooted in their biology. If a close family member lives with the condition, your child’s risk increases significantly. Specific gene variants tied to serotonin and glutamate regulation appear to raise vulnerability, though no single gene acts as a definitive cause.

Environmental Factors

Your teenager’s environment also shapes their risk of developing obsessive-compulsive disorder. Childhood trauma, chronic stress, or major life disruptions can trigger OCD in those already predisposed. Even learned thought patterns and behavioral responses, reinforced over time, can deepen compulsive tendencies.

Prenatal and Perinatal Factors

Teenagers who have had adverse prenatal and perinatal experiences also have an increased risk of developing symptoms of OCD. Prenatal experiences include maternal smoking during pregnancy or other stressors such as medication. Perinatal experiences, or those that occur just after birth, could include preterm birth and low birth weight.

Childhood Illness or Infection

Challenges to the immune system may affect brain development in early childhood, which can result in the development of symptoms of OCD. Childhood infections can change brain structure and function and impact mood regulation that could lead to compulsive behavior. Pediatric Autoimmune Neuropsychiatric Disorders Associated with Streptococcal Infections (PANDAS) can trigger or worsen OCD symptoms after a streptococcal infection.

Personality Factors

Personality traits have been identified as potential contributors. These traits — specifically, a high degree of neuroticism or low extraversion — mean your teen is less interested in stimuli from the environment and more focused on their internal thoughts and feelings. Neuroticism is a tendency to focus on negative emotions, so your teen may be less able to regulate their emotional state.