An Vo1, Patricia Gruner1, 2, Toshikazu Ikuta1, 2, Miklos Argyelan2, Bart Peters1, 2, Anil K. Malhotra1, 2, Peter B. Kingsley3, Aziz M. Ulu
1Feinstein Institute for Medical Research, Manhasset, NY, United States; 2Psychiatry, The Zucker Hillside Hospital, Glen Oaks, NY, United States; 3Radiology, North Shore University Hospital, Manhasset, NY, United States
Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) is an anxiety disorder characterized by distressing, irrational thoughts and repetitive behaviors. Although pediatric OCD is similar to OCD in adults, the content of obsessions and compulsions can be influenced by developmental factors such as age, gender, and genetics. Ritualistic washing, repetitive checking, ordering, counting and hoarding are common compulsions in children and adolescents. Neuro-imaging studies have contributed to our understanding of the neurobiological basis of pediatric OCD. The purpose of this study was to use resting state fMRI to explore disease affected brain networks in pediatric OCD patients compared to healthy volunteers.