Addiction, OCD, Anti-social Behavior

Addiction, OCD, Anti-social Behavior

A 2022 case study conducted by Guisolphi et al. aimed to establish a link between substance addictions and obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD). The study found that obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) is a possible cause of substance use disorder (SUD) and different physical, psychological, and cognitive implications related to abuse of one or several drugs in an individual, which compromises their quality of life. In this study, a 31- year –old male patient with a history of obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) and SUD is taken through bilateral ablative stereotactic neurosurgery. The patient is put under observation, and up to 33 months later, he portrays significant improvements in OCD and SUD and did not have any withdrawal symptoms and the urge to engage in substance use. In addition, ablative stereotactic neurosurgery was an effective way of controlling the implications of OCB, anxiety, and stress.

In most cases, as was the case for the patient under study, people with obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) tend to turn to substance abuse or engage in other anti-social behaviors that provide an escape from their symptoms. OCS is a form of anxiety disorder that results in intrusive thoughts. For instance, they may upset the imaginations of an intruder breaking into their premises. In response, they may be forced to engage in funny behaviors such as repeatedly checking if the doors and windows are correctly locked. Additionally, while compulsion and addiction may co-occur, they significantly differ. Addiction is prevalent among people with more general or severe mental health conditions, including OCD. Commonly abused substances include tobacco, alcohol, cannabis, opioids, cocaine, and amphetamines. Additionally, the study discusses behavioral addictions whereby 70% of those surveyed portrayed symptoms of behavioral addictions.

Self-meditation is another reason people with obsessive-compulsive disorders engage in anti-social behaviors and substance abuse. People with OCD turn to substance abuse and other behaviors to cope with the symptoms since they may provide temporary escapism. Considering that OCD remains an underreported problem, people affected like the patient under study tend to find ways to self-medicate because they may not get the support they require. The use of addictive substances while seeking temporary relief may worsen an individual’s mental health.

As the study results suggest, several theories explain why addiction is common among people with OCD. One idea that seeks to explain the connection is the argument that there is a relationship between compulsiveness and impulsiveness. Impulsiveness means that an individual cannot control their behavior following spontaneous urges to take substances or engage in other anti-social behaviors that are potentially addictive. People with severe OCD tend to portray higher impulsivity rates, evidenced by the increased number of addictions in this group. Additionally, people with behavioral addictions and OCD score higher on impulsivity than others. Lastly, OCD and addiction may have severe implications on an individual’s reward processing part of the brain; nonetheless, less research provides the link between the two. More study is necessary to help experts fully understand the connection.

The study results point out the benefits of neuroablation to OCD and SUD patients, given the significant improvements recorded in this case. Furthermore, the procedure was safe and had no adverse effects on the patient, nor did it prevent him from going about his daily activities, demonstrating that it is possible to improve the quality of life for people with such conditions rather than allowing them to engage in escapist techniques like substance abuse and other anti-social behaviors.

Reference

Guisolphi, Bessa, I. G., & Silva, L. J. da. (2022). Thermocoagulation Treatment of a Patient with Obsessive Compulsive Disorder and Substance Use Disorder: Case Report. Arquivos Brasileiros de Neurocirurgia. https://doi.org/10.1055/s-0041-1740166