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Press Releases
| Butler Hospital Study Seeks Individuals with OCD to Participate in Genetics Research |
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09/30/09
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Researchers at Butler Hospital are attempting to identify genes that may increase the risk of someone developing obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD).
OCD is a serious psychiatric illness that usually begins in childhood or adolescence.
Supported by a grant from the National Institute of Health, members of the internationally renowned OCD Clinic at Butler Hospital currently have 70 families participating in the study. The researchers say that these families share in the hope that finding genes that make people more vulnerable to OCD will result in new treatments and possibly help to prevent it.
Those suffering from OCD have recurring "obsessive" thoughts they can't get rid of, such as intense doubts or fears that something terrible will happen to themselves or a loved one. They also repeat behaviors —washing, checking, counting, questioning others, arranging things "just right," or extreme collecting or hoarding things. These thoughts and behaviors can cause suffering and emotional pain and prevent people from functioning well at home, school, work, or in relationships.
Participants in the study need to have parents or siblings who are available to participate. Family members do not have to be local. All information, including DNA test results, will be kept completely confidential, even within families. Participants will be compensated for their time.
For more information, please call the Project Director, Dr. Nicole McLaughlin, at 401-455-6608, or nmclaughlin@butler.org or research assistants Jennifer Bernier and Alissa Cerny at 401-455-6366 or jabernier@butler.org or acerny@butler.org. Information is also available about the Butler Hospital OCD Research Group at http://www.butler.org/research. |
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