Genetic and imaging strategies in obsessive-compulsive disorder: Potentialimplications for treatment development

In recent years, advances in brain research have resulted in a striking str ategic shift in studies designed to develop new, effective treatments for n europsychiatric disorders. this involves a multidisciplinary approach with recursive interactions among respective disciplines with the ultimate goal of contributing to treatment development. In this review we focus on treatm ent implications of brain imaging and molecular and pharmacogenetic studies in obsessive-compulsive disorder. Translational components of this researc h are addressed, including the potential for integrating advances in brain imaging and molecular and pharmacogenetic assessments as they may potential ly relate to neurodiagnostic assessment and treatment development. Studies of putative susceptibility alleles in obsessive-compulsive disorder involvi ng the serotonergic, glutamatergic, and dopaminergic systems may provide a focus for these divergent approaches. Taken together, neuroimaging and gene tic methods may ultimately lead to a mechanistic understanding of the patho genesis and maintenance of neuropsychiatric disorders such as obsessive-com pulsive disorder that may, in aim, result in the development of new neurodi agnostic and treatment approaches. (C) 2000 Society of Biological Psychiatr y.