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Approved Research

Rare Genetic Variation and Risk for Obsessive Compulsive Disorder

Principal Investigator: Dr Behrang Mahjani
Approved Research ID: 84208
Approval date: August 12th 2022

Lay summary

In this study we seek to understand how rare genetic variation in all protein coding genes (the exome) influences the risk of developing obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD). OCD is of major public health importance owing to its profound personal and societal costs. Little is known for certain about its etiology, and treatment, detection and prevention strategies are not optimal or directed by knowledge of pathophysiology. In other psychiatric disorders (e.g., autism, intellectual disability, schizophrenia, ADHD), whole exome sequencing (WES) in large numbers of subjects has begun to deliver fundamental knowledge about genetic architecture, identify specific loci for biological follow-up and localize pathways altered in disease.

We will call rare genetic variation from the sequencing data from different cohrots. Then, we will further refine our understanding of the genetic architecture of OCD, focusing on the relationship of OCD risk to risk for other neurodevelopmental disorders, including tic disorders, autism, ADHD, schizophrenia and bipolar disorder. Combining WES data from multiple large studies will enhance power to identify shared loci and begin to identify loci with greater specificity for OCD. Overall, we believe this study will improve our understanding of genetic risk factors for OCD, with a view towards improving clinical outcomes and reducing chronicity and societal costs.