Herpes Simplex-1 and Toxoplasma gondii in Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder: clinical and brain imaging correlates

Introduction Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) is a chronic, prevalent, and highly impairing psychiatric illness. While its aetiology remains unknown, several infectious agents have been associated to obsessive-compulsive symptoms, including herpes simplex virus 1 (HSV-1) Toxoplasma gondii. Objectives To evaluate the serostatus for HSV-1 gondii in sample of patients with OCD, as well clinical brain imaging correlates. Methods Twenty-six OCD 30 healthy controls recruited Lisbon were assessed sociodemographic characteristics using Yale-Brown Obsessive-Compulsive Scale-II (YBOCS-II) Beck Depression Inventory-II (BDI-II). Seropositivity was serum ELISA, volumes cortical subcortical structures T1-weighted magnetic resonance imaging. Results YBOCS-II BDI-II scores significantly higher patients, while age, sex, smoking status, seropositivity similar between two groups. Among those seropositive had lower total white-matter, grey-matter, left right putamen, controls, only last smaller. In multiple regression analyses control associations conserved, effect age not significant. No significant differences found according Conclusions Our preliminary results suggest that smaller white- grey-matter brain. Disclosure relationships.