Abstract

Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) is an anxiety disorder associated with unwanted and repeated thoughts, feelings, ideas, sensations or compulsive behaviors. The extracellular signal-regulated kinases, ERK (extracellular-signal-regulated kinase) 1 and ERK2, are central elements of one of the intracellular signaling cascades, the mitogen activated protein kinase (MAPK) pathway. Importantly, they are genetically linked to ASDs and other syndromes typified by intellectual disability. In this study, we measured phosphorylated ERK 1 and 2 in individuals with OCD and found that phosphorylated ERK is significantly increased in OCD.

Keywords: Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD); Extracellular-Signal-Regulated Kinase (ERK); Mitogen Activated Protein Kinase (MAPK)

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