Role of glutamate in obsessive-compulsive disorder: clinical and experimental findings

Obsessive - compulsive disorder is a common and chronic illness that decreases quality of life and leads to serious limitations. Its treatment is currently only successful in some patients and many of them remain with their problems without proper help and medication. The exact cause of the disease is not yet known, but the role of the glutamatergic system in the pathophysiology of obsessive-compulsive disorder is apparently very important and its modulation can potentially lead to increase in treatment success. Animal models of genetic, behavioural, pharmacological and optogenetic origins are very useful in gaining new insights into the principles and underlying causes of the disease. Clinical studies indicate the efficacy of glutamatergic modulators for disease manifestations and could serve as new avenues for the development of new drugs. Key words: obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD); glutamate, animal model, clinical finding