HOW IS IT THAT CHILDREN CAN HAVE SEVERE OCD AND NOBODY EVEN LOOKS AT THEIR IMMUNE SYSTEM? I still meet families where this has never been investigated. Not once. Back in 2005, researchers examined 50 children with OCD. 42% had antibodies reacting with the basal ganglia, an area of the brain involved in movement, habits and behaviour. In the comparison groups, the figure was just 2–10%. A subsequent review of 7 studies found that people with OCD had almost 5 times the odds of having these antibodies compared with controls. I’ve spent years investigating the immune system’s role in childhood OCD, and I’ve seen remarkable changes when underlying immune dysfunction is identified and addressed. Yet I still meet children whose OCD has completely taken over their lives without anyone having investigated infections or immune dysfunction. So I want to ask parents something. Has anyone EVER investigated your child’s immune system? Or was it straight to anxiety, medication and therapy? I’d genuinely like to know how many families are still experiencing this. Please share this. There are parents who need to know that the immune system may be part of their child’s OCD. Studies and my blog below 👇 #OCDAwarenessWeek #OCD #PANS #PANDAS