Urine tests could detect Obsessive Compulsive Disorder

Australian researchers have found a novel and easy way to detect a common and debilitating anxiety disorder called the Obsessive Compulsive Disorder or OCD. Scientists at the Centenary Institute in Sydney discovered a gene responsible for a rare kidney disorder is also behind OCD. This may make detecting OCD easier through a simple urine test. This test could also identify babies with risk of early-onset OCD. OCD affects up to 3 per cent of all Australians and in its worst cases can be completely debilitating, causing people to have to stay at home. OCD sufferers feel intense anxiety and are compelled to practice rituals - such as hand washing or arranging objects.

According to Professor John Rasko current recommendations suggest screening babies for dicarboxylic aminoaciduria (DA), an inherited disorder of the kidneys. He explained, “This disorder affects the transport of two critical amino acids in nutrients - glutamate and aspartate… These two amino acids are crucial in many aspects of building the body's proteins, but also one of them, glutamate, acts as a transmitter in the brain… The transporter that pumps glutamate in the kidneys also transports glutamate in the brain and in the brain it functions as a signalling molecule.” The gene is the SLC1A1. “These findings prove for the first time that SLC1A1 is the affected gene in dicarboxylic aminoaciduria and demonstrate the crucial role that SLC1A1 plays in the kidney’s ability to process the essential amino acids glutamate and aspartate. Dicarboxylic aminoaciduria is a rare kidney disorder but this discovery may provide us with a clue to understanding OCD that affects approximately 3% of Australians. Due to the crucial role of SLC1A1 in normal brain function, the findings also have major implications for a likely genetic cause of some brain disorders like obsessive-compulsive disorder.”

He went on to say that people with OCD have too much glutamate because of a defect in the pump. This fact he said could help diagnose the condition. “This may provide us with a new opportunity to test people who have OCD with a relatively simple test of the urine…Although not everybody with OCD will have an abnormality in the urine test, what we'd like to be able to show in the future is that it will be able to provide insight into the mechanism by which this causes this otherwise debilitating disorder,” Professor Rasko said.

OCD expert Dr Mairwen Jones from the University of Sydney says early onset OCD affects about three per cent of Australians. She added, “It is the most intractable and disabling of the anxiety disorders… The earlier we can diagnose OCD the sooner we can start treatment to manage the obsessive and compulsive behaviours.”

The research was funded by the Australian National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC), the Australian Research Council (ARC), University of Sydney Bridging Support Grant, Rebecca L. Cooper Foundation and Cure the Future Foundation.

Dr. Ananya Mandal

Written by

Dr. Ananya Mandal

Dr. Ananya Mandal is a doctor by profession, lecturer by vocation and a medical writer by passion. She specialized in Clinical Pharmacology after her bachelor's (MBBS). For her, health communication is not just writing complicated reviews for professionals but making medical knowledge understandable and available to the general public as well.

Citations

Please use one of the following formats to cite this article in your essay, paper or report:

  • APA

    Mandal, Ananya. (2018, August 23). Urine tests could detect Obsessive Compulsive Disorder. News-Medical. Retrieved on November 27, 2024 from https://www.news-medical.net/news/20110106/Urine-tests-could-detect-Obsessive-Compulsive-Disorder.aspx.

  • MLA

    Mandal, Ananya. "Urine tests could detect Obsessive Compulsive Disorder". News-Medical. 27 November 2024. <https://www.news-medical.net/news/20110106/Urine-tests-could-detect-Obsessive-Compulsive-Disorder.aspx>.

  • Chicago

    Mandal, Ananya. "Urine tests could detect Obsessive Compulsive Disorder". News-Medical. https://www.news-medical.net/news/20110106/Urine-tests-could-detect-Obsessive-Compulsive-Disorder.aspx. (accessed November 27, 2024).

  • Harvard

    Mandal, Ananya. 2018. Urine tests could detect Obsessive Compulsive Disorder. News-Medical, viewed 27 November 2024, https://www.news-medical.net/news/20110106/Urine-tests-could-detect-Obsessive-Compulsive-Disorder.aspx.

Comments

The opinions expressed here are the views of the writer and do not necessarily reflect the views and opinions of News Medical.

While we only use edited and approved content for Azthena answers, it may on occasions provide incorrect responses. Please confirm any data provided with the related suppliers or authors. We do not provide medical advice, if you search for medical information you must always consult a medical professional before acting on any information provided.

Your questions, but not your email details will be shared with OpenAI and retained for 30 days in accordance with their privacy principles.

Please do not ask questions that use sensitive or confidential information.

Read the full Terms & Conditions.

You might also like...
Brain volume loss linked to Alzheimer's treatment may be caused by amyloid plaque removal