Focused ultrasound for the treatment of obsessive-compulsive disorder

Abstract

Obsessive-compulsive disorder Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) is a disabling neuropsychiatric disorder characterized by recurrent and intrusive thoughts, desires, and/or images (obsessions Obsession) that lead to repetitive behavior aimed at reducing the associated anxiety (compulsions Compulsion). Typical symptoms of OCD include fear of being contaminated by the environment, which patients try to ease by compulsively washing their hands until they become sore and chapped. Despite this effort, obsessive thoughts and the resulting behavior persist. Epidemiologic studies have revealed that about 1–2% of the general population meet the diagnostic criteria for OCD at some time in their lives, with a lifetime prevalence of 2–3%.