Is OCD Inherited From Father Or Mother?

OCD is a complex mental health disorder characterized by constant and unwanted intrusive thoughts that lead people to engage in repetitive patterns of behaviours called compulsions. OCD can be very distressing and impact all aspects of a person’s life, from work to social relationships. While the exact cause of OCD is still unknown, research suggests that genetics can play a crucial role in OCD. But can you inherit OCD from your father or mother? Let’s find out

OCD and Genetics

Multiple research studies suggest that OCD has a strong genetic component, which means, there is a high risk of a child developing OCD if someone from the family already has it, 

A literature review conducted in 2014 suggests that OCD is more common in relatives of people with OCD, suggesting that OCD has a strong genetic component. The research also suggests that the risk of OCD increases if first-degree relatives (siblings, father or mothers) are already diagnosed with the condition, indicating that there is indeed a higher risk of OCD for a child if one of their parents already has the condition. The research further stated that OCD can co-occur with other conditions, such as body dysmorphic disorder and tic disorders, more often in families, suggesting some shared genetic risk.

Additionally, multiple research studies have found that identical twins (sharing all genes) are more likely to both have OCD than fraternal twins (sharing 50% of genes), suggesting that OCD risk can increase if a sibling has the condition as well, Further, twin studies have estimated the heritability of OCD to be between 27% and 65%, suggesting a strong genetic link.

Research from 2013 investigating the role of genetics in OCD came to a similar conclusion, where it was found that having a close relative (father, mother or siblings) with the disorder significantly increases your own risk. Additionally, maternal age over 35 is also a risk factor for OCD.

A 2020 study had similar findings, where it was found that close relatives (parents, children, siblings, twins) of people with OCD are at an increased risk of developing not only OCD itself but also a range of other mental health conditions such as schizophrenia, ADHD, etc. Additionally, the study also found that the more relatives are diagnosed with OCD in the family, the higher the risk of other family members developing the condition as well, again pointing towards the role of genetics in OCD.

Thus, research suggests that OCD can be inherited not only from a father or mother but also through twin siblings. However, it is important to note that genetics are not the only factor in OCD, as the environment plays a crucial role as well. Let’s look at the environmental causes of OCD as we move ahead.

Environmental Influences In OCD

OCD is a complex disorder and like many other mental health conditions, it also develops from a complex interplay between genetics and the environment. Some environmental factors influencing OCD are:

1. Traumatic life events such as the death of a loved one, divorce, and school difficulties can lead to the onset of OCD, especially for those who are already genetically predisposed to the condition.
2. A childhood history of abuse also increases the risk of OCD.
3. Other comorbid conditions, such as Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD), Tourettes Syndrome, Depression and Generalized Anxiety disorder, can also increase a person’s risk of developing OCD
4. Additionally, maternal health, smoking during pregnancy or infections after birth can also increase the risk of OCD.
5. Lastly, low levels of serotonin, a mood-regulating neurotransmitter, can also increase the risk of OCD.

Conclusion:

In summary, OCD can be inherited from one’s father, mother or siblings. However, research suggests that parents having OCD only increases a child’s risk of developing the condition, but it doesn’t guarantee that the child will develop OCD. So, a child whose parents have OCD may not develop OCD at all. Additionally, environmental triggers such as traumatic events, abuse, etc also play a crucial role in the risk of OCD. Traumatic life events may lead someone to develop oCD without any family history of the condition. Thus, the environment and genetics are both significant contributors to OCD.

References:

1. Browne, H. A., Gair, S. L., Scharf, J. M., & Grice, D. E. (2014). Genetics of Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder and Related Disorders. The Psychiatric Clinics of North America, 37(3), 319–335. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.psc.2014.06.002
2. Familial coaggregation of major psychiatric disorders among first-degree relatives of patients with obsessive-compulsive disorder: A nationwide study | Psychological Medicine | Cambridge Core. (n.d.). Retrieved June 26, 2024, from https://www.cambridge.org/core/journals/psychological-medicine/article/abs/familial-coaggregation-of-major-psychiatric-disorders-among-firstdegree-relatives-of-patients-with-obsessivecompulsive-disorder-a-nationwide-study/93D3BB33B06F84288E5A5EF2B580A7C5
3. FAMILY AGGREGATION AND RISK FACTORS OF OBSESSIVE–COMPULSIVE DISORDERS IN A NATIONWIDE THREE‐GENERATION STUDY – Steinhausen—2013—Depression and Anxiety—Wiley Online Library. (n.d.). Retrieved June 26, 2024, from https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1002/da.22163
4. Maternal Effects as Causes of Risk for Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder—PMC. (n.d.). Retrieved June 26, 2024, from https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC8023336/
5. Pauls, D. L. (2010). The genetics of obsessive-compulsive disorder: A review. Dialogues in Clinical Neuroscience, 12(2), 149–163.
6. What Causes OCD? (n.d.). Verywell Health. Retrieved June 26, 2024, from https://www.verywellhealth.com/causes-of-ocd-5224817
7. Why Genes Are Only a Piece of the OCD Puzzle. (n.d.). Verywell Mind. Retrieved June 26, 2024, from https://www.verywellmind.com/ocd-and-genetics-2510481