Structural brain findings associated with clinical profiles but not diagnosis in unmedicated adults with obsessive-compulsive disorder: the Global OCD study

European Neuropsychopharmacology 2026 Open access

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Authors: Niels T. de Joode, Chris Vriend, Petra J.W. Pouwels, Feng Liu, Maria Cg Otaduy, Bruno Pastorello, Frances C. Robertson, Jonathan Ipser, Seonjoo Lee, Anton J.L.M. van Balkom, Dianne M. Hezel, Marcelo C. Batistuzzo
+12 more Marcelo Q. Hoexter, Karthik Sheshachala, Janardhanan C. Narayanaswamy, Ganesan Venkatasubramanian, Christine Lochner, Euripedes C. Miguel, YC Janardhan Reddy, Roseli G. Shavitt, Dan J. Stein, Melanie M. Wall, Helen Blair Simpson, Odile A. van den Heuvel
DOI: 10.1016/j.euroneuro.2026.112829
Cited by: 1
References: 60

Abstract

=0.049). No associations were found for illness duration, onset, or medication history. In the largest prospective structural imaging study of unmedicated OCD to date, we found no significant case-control differences in cortical or subcortical morphology. Instead, structural associations were driven by clinical characteristics, including symptom severity, dimensionality, and comorbidity, supporting neuroanatomical models emphasizing the OFC and insula. The absence of case-control differences underscores the importance of studying large unmedicated samples with careful clinical characterization before concluding brain findings are related to the disorder.

Fields of Study & Subjects

Obsessive-Compulsive Spectrum Disorders Personality Disorders and Psychopathology Body Image and Dysmorphia Studies

Publication details

Journal / source
European Neuropsychopharmacology
Publisher
Elsevier BV
Volume
108
Pages
112829–112829
Publication date
2 April 2026
Language
EN