Obsessive compulsive disorder and multiple sclerosis: Three cases

Abstract

Despite the presence of a large body of studies, little is known about the pathogenesis of obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD). Immunological mechanisms have been suggested in recent years. OCD has been described in the context of the pediatric autoimmune neuropsychiatric syndrome (PANDAS), characterized by tics, dyskinesia, emotional lability and obsessive-compulsive behaviors, associated with streptococcal infections. The association of OCD with autoimmune diseases promises to constitute a new research area. Thus, comorbidity of OCD with a prototypic autoimmune disease, multiplee sclerosis (MS), would be notable. In this report we present three OCD cases with comorbid MS and discuss our cases in the light of relevant literature. Obsessive Compulsive Disorder preceded MS in all patients. The patients reported no streptococcal infection, tic disorder or movement disorder history and had no improvement of OCD during immunotherapy.