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Obsessive Compulsive Disorder and Aerobic Exercise

Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD) is characterized by recurrent intrusive thoughts and repetitive behaviors that are linked to low serotonin levels in the brain. Current treatments include cognitive-behavioral therapy and selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor medications. Aerobic exercise has shown promise as a supplementary treatment, as 150 minutes per week was found to decrease negative affect, increase positive affect, and improve OCD symptoms through physiological changes like increased serotonin synthesis and release in the brain. However, further research is still needed on potential risks like developing an obsessive preoccupation with exercise.

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232 views9 pages

Obsessive Compulsive Disorder and Aerobic Exercise

Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD) is characterized by recurrent intrusive thoughts and repetitive behaviors that are linked to low serotonin levels in the brain. Current treatments include cognitive-behavioral therapy and selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor medications. Aerobic exercise has shown promise as a supplementary treatment, as 150 minutes per week was found to decrease negative affect, increase positive affect, and improve OCD symptoms through physiological changes like increased serotonin synthesis and release in the brain. However, further research is still needed on potential risks like developing an obsessive preoccupation with exercise.

Uploaded by

api-446344364
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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Obsessive Compulsive Disorder

and Aerobic Exercise


EPHE 441
Alisha Wong
What is Obsessive Compulsive Disorder?
● Chronic anxiety disorder
● Characterized by recurrent intrusive thoughts and repetitive
behaviours
● Increased negative affect
○ Depression and fear
● Decreased positive affect
○ Energy and self-assurance
● Greater avoidance behaviour vs. approach behaviour
Physiology of OCD

● Serotonin (neurotransmitter)
○ Regulates mood, behaviour, anxiety, and happiness
● Linked to disfunction in the brain’s serotonin system
● Hypersensitive postsynaptic serotonin receptors
● Dysruption in the genes encoding for serotonin transporters and
receptors
● Low levels of serotonin
Current Treatments

● Cognitive-behavioural therapy (CBT)

○ Exposure and response prevention

● Pharmacotherapy treatment

○ Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitor medications

(SSRI)
Aerobic Exercise Treatment

● 150 minutes of moderate intensity (64-76% of age


predicted HR max) exercise per week
● 12 week exercise intervention
supplementary to current
treatment
Changes in OCD symptoms
following exercise:

● Decrease in negative affect

● Increase in positive affect

● Greater approach behaviour

○ Enhanced mood

○ Decrease in anxiety

Fig. 1. (a) Acute changes in mood before and after exercise and
(b) acute changes in anxiety before and after exercise.
(Abrantes et al., 2009).
Changes in OCD
symptoms following
exercise:

● Improvements in
obsessive and
compulsive
behaviour

Fig. 2. (a) Acute changes in obsessions before and after exercise.


(b) Acute changes in compulsions before and after exercise.
(Abrantes et al., 2009).
Physiological Changes due to Exercise

● Increase in tryptophan, serotonin precursor


○ Increasing rate of serotonin synthesis
● Increased firing rates of serotonin neurons
○ Increasing release of serotonin
● Down regulation of postsynaptic serotonin receptors
○ Increase serotonin levels
● May have comparable benefits to SSRI medications
Can exercise be negative?

● Participants did not find that exercising triggered OCD


symptoms
● However, it is possible to develop an obsessive and
unhealthy preoccupation with exercise
● Further research of the risk for exercise dependence
among individuals with OCD is needed

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