BRAIN-STEM INVOLVEMENT IN OBSESSIVE-COMPULSIVE DISORDER

We investigated the possible involvement of the brainstem in the patho logy of obsessive-compulsive disorder. Brainstem auditory evoked poten tials (BAEPs) were collected from a population of neurotics (100 patie nts), including a group of 50 subjects suffering from obsessive-compul sive disorder (OCD) and the rest having generalized anxiety disorder. Twenty-five, age- and sex-matched, healthy volunteers served as contro ls. BAEPs were recorded by standard techniques as recommended by the A EEGS Clinical Evoked Potentials Guidelines. A one-way analysis of vari ance and the Fisher least-significant difference test were used for st atistical analysis of the data. After stimulation of the right ear, a significant increase of wave I-V interpeak latency was found in the tw o groups of patients as compared with that of controls. Moreover OCD p atients had a significantly reduced amplitude of wave III when compare d to that of the control group. Our electrophysiological data suggest a possible involvement of brainstem in OCD pathogenesis. We discuss ou r findings in relation to biochemical, anatomical and physiological al terations described in the literature for serotonin-dependent systems. (C) 1998 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.