Aspectos neurorradiológicos do transtorno obsessivo-compulsivo: o papel dos gânglios da base

Contemporary neuroanatomical models for obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) propose that abnormalities of specific cortico-subcortical circuits mediate the disorder's symptoms. This paper focuses on the basal ganglia, believed to play a critical role in the functioning of those brain circuits. Clinical and experimental studies investigating the presence of abnormalities of basal ganglia structures in OCD are reviewed, with particular emphasis on the neuroimaging literature. Despite controversies in the area, a considerable amount of data has accumulated suggesting that abnormalities of the cau...