Viral antibodies in blood in obsessive compulsive disorder.

Abstract

IgG viral antibodies for herpes simplex virus -1, varicella zoster virus, cytomegalovirus, measles and mumps were studied in 76 subjects with obsessive compulsive disorder and compared with a control population. There was a significantly higher titre for some of the antibodies, most specifically for herpes simplex virus type 1 and mumps. This suggests a possible role for these viral infections in the pathogenesis of obsessive compulsive disorder.